A bird house not only brings a charming piece of nature close to you; it gives birds
a safe place to nest. If you choose your bird house carefully, you'll experience
the wonder of watching birds prepare their nest and care for their eggs and chicks,
and then you'll see the grand finale: the chicks’ amazing first flights. It’s an
engaging and awe-inspiring experience for adults and children alike.
THE QUICK SCOOP
Buying a
bird house is generally a great idea. If tackled properly, it’s good for
the birds and fun for you. However, you need to do your research, because for an
inexperienced buyer, there are a surprisingly large number of issues to consider.
A bird house requires ventilation and drainage. It needs to be made of a material
that is appropriate for birds and that won't absorb too much heat. It should effectively
keep out predators. An easy way to open it is a must, so that you can check on conditions,
take a peek at your residents, and clean it out as needed.
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The general rule is to buy a simple wood birdhouse designed
for the comfort and safety of its guests. There are beautiful bird houses, often ornate,
colorful and extremely appealing to humans, but these may actually be more suited
for use as decorative knick knacks. Of course, there are exceptions that merge both
high levels of detail, beauty and craftsmanship with practicality and function,
but you should be prepared with the facts so you can evaluate your choices carefully.
Remember, the birds are beautiful; perhaps the birdhouse doesn't have to be. And
if a decorative but unpractical birdhouse truly catches your eye, you can use it
as a lovely accent piece in a country-style kitchen or a rustic family room.
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THE BIRDS
Bird houses are designed to provide a sheltered spot for tree cavity-nesting birds
building a nest. If a suitable natural nesting spot is not readily available, most
cavity-nesting birds will readily settle in an appropriately sized and placed bird
house. Other birds nest in tree branches, bushes, and reeds and these will not nest
in a bird house.
Here is a general list of tree-cavity nesting birds who may settle in a bird house:
wrens, bluebirds, robins, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, brown creepers, warblers,
tree and barn swallows, flycatchers, flicker and red-bellied woodpeckers, finches,
kestrels, and purple martins.
Each species has some specific preferences regarding size of house, size of entry
opening, mounting height, and location. In this guide we will focus on general safety
and comfort issues common to most birds. Location and mounting height will probably
be determined by what works within your outdoor space. You will want to have fairly
easy access to the bird house for viewing and maintenance. Unless you are already
an expert birder, part of the fun will be trying to identify what kind of birds
you're housing.
THE STRUCTURE
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A bird house that is good for birds (as opposed to indoor
decorative purposes) should meet the criteria outlined below. In general, a bird
house can and should be fairly simple. Birds generally nest as one family unit;
because of this, they do not require a large space and only need one entry opening.
One exception worth noting is purple martins, who nest in groups. Because of this,
houses
for purple martins need at least four rooms and openings.
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As an example of the longevity to expect from a bird house, a well-made wood one
can last up to 10 years, and may fledge as many as 50 birds during that time.
Material
Wood is usually the best material for bird houses. It is durable, breathes,
and provides insulation. Thicker wood will help keep the temperature from getting
too hot or cold inside. Since the material needs to be non-toxic to birds, it should
not be treated, painted, or stained inside. Besides wood, other material options
include
gourds, pottery, and
aluminum.
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Ventilation/Drainage
Ventilation and drainage are key components in a good
bird house. Ventilation allows air to circulate and prevents the interior from becoming
too hot. Drainage is vital, since it keeps the baby birds from drowning during rain
storms.
Maintenance Access
There should be an easy way for you to reach the inside
for cleaning, maintenance, and taking a peek. Often the top or a side will be hinged
for access.
Bird Entrance Hole
The entrance should be just big enough for the birds
to get in. The smaller the hole, the better it will be at keeping predators out.
Most species do well with an opening of one to two inches. There should be no perch
in front of the hole. Birds don't need a perch and it only makes it easier for predators
to reach in or wait for the nesting birds to fly out. Finally, an entrance hole
should be at least five inches above the floor of the house, to help keep the nest
safe from any predators who do manage to reach in.
Roof
The roof should extend a few inches over the entrance hole and have
a good pitch to help keep rain out.
General Dimensions
For most species, a floor size of about four by four
to eight by eight, with a house depth of about six to 15 inches, will work well.
The major exceptions are purple martin houses, which, as mentioned, require several
rooms.
PLACEMENT
When you are buying your bird house, make sure that it is easily mountable, since
this is a necessity. For many species, a height off the ground of four to 10 feet
is perfect, though some species, such as purple martins and some woodpeckers, prefer
houses from 10 to 20 feet up. The best plan is to choose a height that works for
you, since you will be maintaining it and enjoying the view.
Mounting options include hanging the house from a tree limb, or mounting it to a
fence, pole, or tree trunk. Houses on metal poles are safest from predators.
PREDATORS
Raccoons, squirrels, opossums, cats, dogs, and snakes are all natural predators
to cavity nesting birds. House sparrows and starlings, two species introduced from
Europe, will also try to kill cavity-nesting birds. The best defenses are: mounting
the house on a metal pole, since they are hard to climb; keeping the entrance opening
as small as possible and at least five inches above the floor of the house; having
an extra thick wood block, called a predator guard, at the opening to make it harder
for animals to reach in; and not using perches, since they provide a place for predators
to wait.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Your key maintenance job will be cleaning the house out after use by a bird brood.
If you clean out the house soon after the brood has flown away, you may end up providing
a home for more than one family that season. After the season, you can either store
your house inside or leave it out. Clean it out again in the spring and you'll be
ready for the new season.
PRICE RANGE
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