Information on Bird Houses

Attracting wild birds to your own backyard is very exciting and rewarding. Many beautiful songbirds will readily visit your backyard if you offer a steady supply of food, water and shelter in the form of trees and bird houses.

Early spring is the time to put up your birdhouses so prime real estate is waiting and ready for nesting birds. Offering species specific nest boxes as well as nesting materials will not only help nesting birds, but will entice nesting birds and their off-spring to your yard on a consistent basis.

Nesting birds can use your help!! A single nest can take thousands of trips to find materials and build. Help them out by offering nesting materials in concentrated, readily observable piles or stashes to reduce the time it takes a bird to find things and build a nest.

Not all birds will use birdhouses, but over 50 species of North American birds are known to use bird houses, or require an actual cavity for nesting. Some common nesting box birds include BLUEBIRDS, chickadees, and WRENS!

Bird houses of specific shapes and dimensions will attract specific birds. Visit our Birdhouse Collection to find the right bird house for the wild birds you want to attract.

Although Spring is the time most people put up birdhouses, you can put them up any time of year. Fall is an ideal time. When not in use, other birds will use them for a roosting cavity in the cold weather.

Whether you purchase or make your own bird house, make sure it is constructed of durable wood (redwood, white cedar or cypress), has good ventilation and drainage holes. Take a look at our great selection of wild bird houses for some ideas.

For best results with your bird house, mount it on a sturdy pole or post. Secure it so it is safe and stable. Make sure it is protected from predators and intruders such as cats and squirrels. Place your bird houses at least 5’ away from your bird feeding area but in a place where you can view and enjoy it. Keep the front of the box away from wind current. In most areas this means facing South or Southeast. Remember, that most birds prefer open, sunny spots.

Don't forget to add nesting materials with your bird house. Offer the following items wedged in the trunk of a tree, an empty suet cage or a basket suspended from the branch of a tree:

String or Yarn 3-4" inches
Animal or Human Hair
Small Twigs or Strips of Bark
Straw
Narrow Strips of Soft Cloth
Feathers
Stuffing from Old Furniture
Dryer Lint
Grass
Pine Needles
Shredded Paper
Thin Strips of Fabric Softener Sheets

If that’s too much work, we offer a ready-to-go Best Nest Builder, it’s pre-packaged nesting materials in a ready-to-hang bundle!

When your birds are through nesting, always remember to clean out your bird houses. Remove any old nests and scrub with a 10% bleach solution. Allow to dry thoroughly before remounting. We like to let ours dry in the sun for several days.

Always keep your nesting boxes up, some birds will use them for roosting in the cold winter months. Having your bird house up and ready at all times of year, will encourage the early nesting birds to your backyard first!

HAPPY BIRDING!

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