These tips will help you attract the most birds to your birdhouse.
Love birds and want to create a space for them to spend more time in your yard?
A birdhouse will help entice feathered beauties to spend more time near your home.
Credit:Jay Wilde
Heres what you gotta know about how to attract birds to a birdhouse in your yard.
Zach Hutchinson is an ornithologist and owner ofFlockingAround, a birding website.
And think about a birds perspective.
Birds nest where needs are met, says Hutchinson.
Know the bird species in your region.
Putting up a birdhouse doesnt guarantee birds will automatically arrive at the new doorstep.
Familiarize yourself with the bird species that inhabit the area where you live.
Marc Parnell is an ornithologist and bestselling author ofThe Birding Pro’s Field Guides.
Make your backyard or front lawn a haven for many avian species simply by choosing the right plants.
Provide a water source.
Birds need access to water to drink and bathe.
Use a scalloped stone or a flat, shallow dish to collect rain and dew, Hutchinson says.
These collectors help our feathered friends have a semi-reliable water source.
Add a bird-feeding station.
Set up a birdfeeder for the types ofbird species you want to attract.
Birds need to feel safe wherever they seek shelter.
Ensure your birdhouse is easy for birds to reach but not for predators.
Keep in mind some bird species can be predators of other birds.
Choose a birdhouse for the bird species you want to attract.
With many variablesinfluencing where birds take shelter, dont be surprised if they arent using the birdhouse immediately.
Lack of use does not mean you have not provided an optimal space.
He shares its possible that a bird hasnt found your birdhouse yet.
Where to Hang a Birdhouse
1.
Choose a protected spot.
Placing the birdhouse in a protected space is important.
Parnell says, [Place] near plenty of natural shelters, such as thick shrubbery or low-hanging branches.
You also want to avoid placing a house near a birdfeeder.
Pay attention to orientation.
Location is key but the orientation is, too.Consider the amount of sunlightand wind a birdbox will receive.
As a rule of thumb, avoid the hot afternoon sun.
Birdhouses should typically face away from the hot afternoon sun and from any prevailing winds, explains Parnell.
Hanging a birdhouse may seem like an easy and obvious choice but birds seek stability in their home.
Another option is to use poles and tree trunks.
Choosing the Best Birdhouse
1.
Pick the right materials.
Wood is a preferred material for birdhouses.
You also want to see to it the wood hasnt been treated.
Avoid using chemically treated boards and toxic glues, Hutchinson says.
Pay attention to dimensions.
Create a safe space with the right size entrance.
The ideal size depends on the bird species you want to attract.
Natural colors are best.
Painting the exterior of the birdhouse is a wonderful way to increase its durability, says Parnell.
Naturally colored birdhouseswhich approximately blend with the immediate surroundings tend to provide the best measure of safety."
Frequently Asked Questions
No, hummingbirds do no use birdhouses.
Instead they tend to build nests in dense trees and shrubs.
Cardinals dont use birdhouses and dont like to be in enclosed spaces.
