Why do bird houses attract birds?
The secret to attract birds to your backyard bird house or patio is simply basic stuff; water, food, and a place to dwell and nest. It can be as simple as placing a bird bath, planting fruit-bearing shrubs or even installing a pond with a waterfall.
If it’s in the country, suburbs or city, bird houses are a must; they can be whimsical, creative or decorative birdhouses and I simply cannot imagine life without hearing the sound of wild birds chirping.
The reason why bird houses attract birds is simple; it doesn’t matter if you build a bird house or buy one, it all depends on what you know about birds and birdhouse design. Here are some things to consider when choosing bird houses for your garden.
Features to consider in choosing a birdhouse
Bird houses are not for all birds – First you need to decide which bird you want to attract, and then get a house for that particular bird; Bluebirds prefer nest boxes on a tree stump or wooden fence post near an old field, orchard, park, cemetery, or golf course while Purple Martins nest in groups, so a house with a minimum of four large rooms on the edge of a pond or river, surrounded by a field or lawn will work best. The most important thing to remember is keep your feeders, houses and water sources clean and our feathered friends safe.
Bird house design & materials - Birdhouses come in all shapes and sizes; with and without perches, made of wood, recycled paper, plastic, metal, and more. Pay attention to ventilation, drainage, and easy access for maintenance and monitoring. Box height, depth and floor, diameter of entrance hole, and height of hole above the box floor are also important.
A wooden birdhouse is your best choice. Wood has the ability to breath, it has good insulating qualities and it’s durable. Keep away from houses treated with chemicals on the inside – the fumes could harm the birds. Use light colored water based exterior latex paint for your bird house; white, tan, gray or dull green will work best at reflecting the heat and blend-in with the surroundings. Do not paint the inside of the box or the entrance hole.
Bird house proper placement – Choosing the right place for your bird house is very important. For example, bird houses mounted on metal poles are less vulnerable to predators than houses hung from trees or nailed to tree trunks. If you have very hot summers, avoid overheating the box and keep its entrance holes facing north or east. Avoid placing bird houses near bird feeders and don’t overcrowd too many birdhouses on one tree - let each bird establish its own territory and give the birdies some space.
Bird houses and predators – Protect your bird house from potential predators such as, cats, dogs, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, snakes and insects. The best solution is to mount your birdhouse on a metal pole. If you own a cat or dog, don’t let them come near the bird house. Equip them with a bell collar or put obstacles to prevent them from coming near the bird house. Try adding a predator guard of sheet metal to the entrance hole to put-off predators or maybe using squirrel proof bird feeders in order to discourage squirrels from roaming your property.
Choosing the right birdhouse is easy - just follow our tips about bird types, bird feeders and bird houses so you could provide them with food, water and shelter; invite wild birds into your backyard and enrich your life with song and beauty.
