What to Look For in a Birdhouse

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     If we tried for 100 years I don't think we could return what we have taken from the birds. We cut down their trees, drained swamps, and destroyed their habitats to make way for our villages then towns and now cities. I ready somewhere that only 10% or less of the birds that existed in the time of man are still around today and that number decreases each and every day.

According to the 2010 "State of Birds" in the 2010 report on climate change released earlier this year by Secretary Salazar, almost one out of every three of the 800 species that calls the US home are endangered, threatened or on the decline. By building nesting boxes and bird feeders for the remaining species we increase the chances of success for the remaining birds.

Almost forty species of bird uses cavities in trees as nest to lay their eggs. These species happily take up homes in birdhouses build by us. Some species like the purple martins rely almost entirely on birdhouses build by man. These birdhouses must protect their inhabitants from wind, rain, and direct sunlight. They must be built to the dimensions required by each bird species and placed in areas, at heights that are attractive for each species. The idea is to copy nature as closely as possible.

When looking for a bird house to buy or build, look for ones with hole entrances that are not level with the floor. Stay away from metal and thin plastic bird houses as they do not provide the protection necessary for young chicks on cold nights and hot days.

Birdhouses need to be opened for clean out and inspection so a hinged door is always needed or at least some way to clean the inside during the early spring. Drainage holes at the bottom of a bird house are also very necessary to keep from drowning its residents during stormy weather. Good ventilation is also a must to keep the birds cool on hot sunny days. Another consideration is the type of bird you are looking to attract.

If you want to attract a woodpecker, transplant a dead hollow stump or limb into a nearby tree or make a birdhouse from a hollow log or branch. The woodpeckers really love naturally hollowed out logs or branches. Make sure you mount a removable floor or some way of cleaning out your log or branch at the end of the season. Most birds will refuse to occupy a bird house with soiled nesting materials so everything in the nest box needs to be removed.

When I first started putting out birdhouses and nest boxes I left the nest in from the previous summer thinking I was doing the birds a favor. I found out the hard way that no self respecting bird wanted to occupy a nest box that had an old bird nest in it.

Some people say that the best time to try to attract birds to your home is in the spring. There really is no "best time" so let's get out there and help the birds that we have taken so much from before it's too late.