When deciding to put up a bird house it is important to realize that not all birds will use bird houses so if you are attempting to attract a certain species of birds or you just want to provide an area for the birds that are already coming to your yard, it is important to know if they readily use bird houses.
Common birds that use bird houses include:
When do you put up a bird house? Late winter and early spring are great time, however, there is no time like the present to put up your bird house as birds may explore the suitably of the house, but not necessarily moving in until they are ready to breed. Just because you put up a bird house does not mean that you will automatically receive a tenant. Expect that it may take a year or more for your house to be occupied. If it remains vacant for two years, you may wish to re-locate the house to a different location.
As bird houses are typically used for raising families. In some cases birds may try to use them for shelter to get out of the elements during inclement weather. You may wish to also think about providing them a winter shelter.
While you may intend to attract a specific type of bird, such as a bluebird, it is important to note that any bird that finds your bird house is attractive is likely to make your bird house its home. Many houses are designed to attract certain birds, but that does not always work out that way.
The height that you place your bird house will vary from species to species and can vary anywhere from 5 to 50 feet. In most cases when you purchase your bird house there will be a recommendation. Keep in mind that you will want to locate your bird house so that you will be able to easily monitor the house as well as clean it out at the end of the season.
There is no limit to how many houses you can put up on your property, but not all of them will necessarily receive tenants. The number of birds moving into your houses may depend on other factors such as whether the habitat on or near your property will be suitable for the birds you are providing a bird house for. If your property is heavily wooded, then you may not attract a bird that requires open fields. Also, some birds, such as chickadees, require a large area (about ten acres) for breeding. A nesting pair of chickadees is unlikely to allow other chickadees into its territory. On the other hand, chickadees will allow other cavity nesters such as wrens and titmice that may utilize a similar habitat.
What about those birds that don’t use bird houses? You can provide nesting materials such as cat hair, cotton, dryer lint (don’t use and fabric softener), feathers, fur, etc. and put these materials in a empty suet feeder, or a string bag. Other desirable items that you can provide for nesting materials include: feathers, string, hemp, raffia natural wool (cotton), and aspen fiber. To make it easier for you these items can be purchased as shown below, such as Birdie Bell, Nesting Material Mixture, a Nesting Material Wreath, and/or Hummer Helper Nesting Material. The Hummer Helper products are specifically designed for Hummingbirds. I like to take a red paper plate and put it above the hummer helper as this helps to attract the hummingbirds to the nesting materials you provide. The females love it! The males get confused…..
