When it comes to houses, “one size fits all” doesn’t work anybetter for birds than it does for people. When you look through books and catalogs you will see that there are birdhouses of all shapes and sizes. Some have perches and some without. They can
be made from wood, recycled paper and plastic containers, gourds, pottery, metal, and even concrete.
There are more than two dozen North American birds that routinely nest in bird houses. The type of birdhouse and the location will determine what type of bird, if any, will make use of your birdhouse.
The Eastern Bluebird is my favorite bird. They place their nest in a birdhouse or an abandoned woodpecker hole anywhere from 3 to 20 feet off the ground. They compete with house sparrows and starlings for the best nesting sites. Placing the birdhouse on a fence post or tree stump between 4 and 5 feet high will discourage the house sparrows and make it easier for you to
monitor. A smaller hole, an inch and a half in diameter will discourage the starlings. Discourage the nest raiders by using a metal pole or mounting a predator guard.
A well placed bluebird box will attract a mated pair. It may take a year or two but once they
settle in they will be back year after year.
settle in they will be back year after year.
Just helped my son with his back garden, we found a robin's nest in an overturned flower pot in the long grass. It seems that we must have disturbed it as the parents did not return to the pair of eggs.
ReplyDeleteHe went out and bought a bird box, He was surprised when I told him the hole was too small, LOL. Soon sorted it out though.