Having birds frequent your backyard birdhouse brings the joys of nature right to your doorstep. Watching colorful songbirds flitting about, hearing their melodic chirps, and seeing fledglings take their first flights are some of the simple pleasures a birdhouse can provide.
Attracting desirable backyard birds takes a bit of planning and knowledge. You’ll need to consider the type of birdhouse, its placement, and the appropriate habitat around it. Providing bird feed and nesting materials specifically suited to the species you hope to attract will increase your odds of success.
This article explores how to create an enticing birdhouse and backyard environment to bring in your favorite feathered friends.
Choose a Birdhouse Design for the Species You Want
The dimensions and features of a birdhouse determine which species will take up residence. Carefully researching the needs of your desired backyard birds is crucial.
Important factors to evaluate include:
- Entrance hole size – Different sized holes accommodate specific species.
- Interior floor dimensions – Must suit the bird’s body size.
- Height above ground – Varies depending on the bird.
- Protection from predators – Non-wood houses deter climbing predators.
- Protection from elements – Overhangs prevent rain flooding and provide shade.
- Ventilation – Facilitates air flow.
- Easy cleaning and monitoring – Removable panels simplify maintenance.
For example, a house with a 1-1/2″ diameter entrance hole mounted 6-10 feet high would be ideal for Eastern bluebirds. However, that design would exclude chickadees who need a 1-1/4″ opening and small interior floor space.
Consulting an birdhouse design guide will ensure your house meets the criteria for the backyard birds you want to welcome.
Choose the Right Location
Proper placement of your birdhouse also contributes to its appeal to birds.
Some things to take into account when siting your birdhouse include:
- Height above ground based on species preferences
- Direction the entrance hole faces
- Accessibility for cleaning and monitoring
- Protection from prevailing winds and rain
- Safety from predators
- Sufficient distance from brush and trees
Research indicates most birds prefer their house entrance to face away from prevailing winds and intense sun. East or north facing holes are best for avoiding overheating too.
Suspend or pole-mount houses out of reach of predators. Cats can jump several feet up so height is important. Place houses at least 10 feet from vegetation to discourage squirrels.
Be sure to situate the house where you can conveniently monitor and clean it out.
Offer Bird Feed
Supplying bird feeders stocked with treats favored by your desired bird species makes your yard even more appealing.
Feeders placed near birdhouses provide easy snacking spots for adults and offer an abundant food source for raising nestlings.
Some seeds and foods birds love include:
- Black oil sunflower seeds – Enjoyed by cardinals, sparrows, finches, and more.
- Nyjer seed – A favorite of finches.
- Suet – Draws woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees.
- Mealworms – Catbirds, robins, and bluebirds find them irresistible.
- Fruit – Raisins, berries, and cut oranges attract tanagers, orioles, and grosbeaks.
Providing bird food tailored to your desired backyard species will entice them to visit your yard frequently and take up residence in your birdhouse.
Provide Nesting Materials
Furnishing appropriate bird nest-building materials will encourage birds to settle in your birdhouse.
Many species appreciate supplies like:
- Grasses
- Shredded bark
- Pet fur
- Moss
- Spider silk
- Feathers
- Leaves
- Pine needles
- Twigs
- Roots
Set out a shallow container filled with an assortment of bird-safe fibers and let nature take its course. Birds will gather the items they need to fashion a cozy nest.
An added benefit of providing nest-building materials is that you won’t lose flowers, hair, and fibers around your own yard!
Plant for Shelter, Food Sources, and Nest Materials
Your landscaping choices can have a big impact on how attractive your yard is to birds.
Consider these tips for planting a bird-friendly yard:
- Grow native plants suited your region since birds co-evolved with those species.
- Choose a variety of plants as different birds have different needs – shrubs, trees, flowers, grasses, etc.
- Select plants like dogwoods and viburnum that produce berries birds enjoy.
- Include evergreens like juniper that give shelter from severe weather.
- Allow dead tree snags to stand – they offer nesting cavities.
- Leave seed heads and stems on plants – they provide nest materials.
- Avoid pesticides – birds eat poisoned insects.
- Include flowers that attract pollinating insects birds dine on.
- Add a small water feature – birds relish bathing and drinking.
Developing a bird-friendly habitat supports every stage of birds’ lives and makes your yard a more inviting place for them to raise their young.
Maintain Your Birdhouse
Performing regular maintenance on your birdhouse will keep birds returning year after year.
Follow these tips for birdhouse upkeep:
- Clean the house interior after baby birds fledge in the fall.
- Wash with mild soap and water solution.
- Rinse well and allow to fully dry.
- Replace any damaged wood or loose fasteners.
- Refresh faded exteriors with non-lead paint.
- Ensure drainage holes are clear of debris.
- Tighten any loose mounting wires or straps.
- Remove old nesting materials annually to prevent parasites.
A few simple maintenance steps annually will have your birdhouse clean, secure, and ready for more years of charming backyard bird residents.
Prevent Issues
Being aware of a few potential issues can help you head off problems and protect your feathered lodgers.
- Monitor for aggressive, non-native birds trying to take over another species’ house.
- Clean out abandoned nests before winter so mice don’t move in.
- Check for parasites like mites, fleas and blowfly larvae in used nests.
- Toss out spoiled fruit and seed from feeders promptly to inhibit mold.
- Place squirrel guards below feeders to prevent them from stealing the contents.
- Regularly wash feeders to prevent disease transmission.
- Remove droppings and leftover food remains under platform feeders.
Paying attention to your bird homes and habitat will maintain a healthy, safe environment for your avian residents.
Choose the Right Nest Box Materials
Birdhouses can be constructed from a variety of materials. Each option has pros and cons to weigh when selecting the right nest box building material for your birds.
Wood
- Pros: Natural appearance, easily customized, provides insulation
- Cons: Degrades over time, can warp, susceptible to woodpeckers
- Best for: Most backyard birds – bluebirds, chickadees, wrens, etc.
Plastic
- Pros: Durable, long lasting, low maintenance
- Cons: Can fade in sunlight, not natural looking, inadequate ventilation
- Best for: Housing non-native birds like starlings – discourages nesting
Wicker
- Pros: Aesthetically pleasing, well ventilated, durable
- Cons: Relatively expensive, not insulating
- Best for: Decorative birdhouses for open air species like robins and phoebes
Ceramic/Concrete
- Pros: Extremely durable, weather resistant, attractive appearance
- Cons: Heavier than other materials, inadequate air flow
- Best for: Decorative houses, public spaces like parks and gardens
Resin
- Pros: Lightweight, easy to clean, long lasting
- Cons: Can fade over time, expensive
- Best for: Coastal climates – resists moisture damage
Metal
- Pros: Very durable, weatherproof, minimal maintenance
- Cons: Can overheat birds, drilling required for ventilation
- Best for: Workshops, barns, and outdoor storage where wood is scarce
Selecting a lasting, well-ventilated, protective material suited to your region and bird species will help create an inviting nesting spot.
Conclusion
Enticing delightful songbirds to raise their young in your backyard birdhouse requires some preparation but is worth the effort.
Strategically designing and placing your birdhouse, landscaping with birds in mind, providing enticing food and nesting materials, and diligently maintaining clean housing will create an attractive haven.
As charming birds visit your yard and birdhouse more frequently, you’ll be rewarded with the cheerful sights and sounds of nature right outside your window.
