Bird Houses & Bird Boxes
Information, tips and advice on building or buying birdhouses for wild birds. There are about 80 species of cavity dwelling birds in the United States and each has different next box needs. Frequently the bird houses we find in local stores are not suitable for wild bird nesting, most often the case being that the floor dimensions and entry holes are to small to accommodate specific bird species. It's not hard to learn what birds need in a home - simply decide on the species of birds you wish to attract and select a box which is a suitable size. If you plan correctly, you can attract wild birds to a garden habitat. Here is tips and advice when if you intend to plan, build or shop for a bird house for a backyard.
Bird Houses, Bird Boxes - A terrific selection of bird houses for all types of backyard friends. Everything from wrens to owls in functional boxes to fancy whimsical styles, and large ornate multi dwelling.
Bluebird Houses, Trail Boxes - Who does not want stunning bluebirds to build their nests in the backyard? Check out this wide assortment of bluebird boxes, there is something for everyone here!
Songbird Bird Houses, Winter Roosting Boxes - For the little guys. Wren, chickadee, finch and nuthatch bird houses in a wonderful selection.
Purple Martin Bird Houses - The regal purple martin, an understated king of the sky. Multi dwelling large bird houses for these gorgeous friends.
Nesting Materials - Backyard Bird Nest Building Materials - Nesting materials for our backyard buddies to help them build their home. Soft stuff, holders, even hummingbird nesting materials. How cute is that?
Bird Houses, Bird Boxes - A terrific selection of bird houses for all types of backyard friends. Everything from wrens to owls in functional boxes to fancy whimsical styles, and large ornate multi dwelling.
Bluebird Houses, Trail Boxes - Who does not want stunning bluebirds to build their nests in the backyard? Check out this wide assortment of bluebird boxes, there is something for everyone here!
Songbird Bird Houses, Winter Roosting Boxes - For the little guys. Wren, chickadee, finch and nuthatch bird houses in a wonderful selection.
Purple Martin Bird Houses - The regal purple martin, an understated king of the sky. Multi dwelling large bird houses for these gorgeous friends.
Nesting Materials - Backyard Bird Nest Building Materials - Nesting materials for our backyard buddies to help them build their home. Soft stuff, holders, even hummingbird nesting materials. How cute is that?
How to Plan, Build or Shop for a Bird House
When you shop for a bird house, or when planning on building your own, these are the things that you should consider. If you want a bird house that will appeal to wild birds, you must meet their nesting needs.1. Dimensions: It is important that your birdhouse is the correct size for birds to nest in. Different species of birds need different size boxes, so check to make sure that the birdhouse you buy matches the needs of the birds you want to attract. Check here for Bird House Dimensions Chart.
2. Ventilation and Drainage: Any birdhouse you buy should have drain holes in the bottom to allow rainwater to run out. Ventilation should be in the roof to allow heat to escape and not build up inside the box.
3. Roof: he roof line of the birdhouse extends over the sides of the box so rain doesn't get inside in the first place.The roof should extend out over the entrance hole several inches. Just as your porch keeps you a bit drier as you come inside the house, this overhang helps keep some of the rain out of the birdhouse.
4. Cleaning & Monitoring: A good birdhouse will have hinged sides or hinged roof to allow you to open the box. You will need to do this to clean out your birdhouse or to remove nests of invasive bird species.
5. Materials: When you shop for a birdhouse, it should not be painted on the inside and should be made of non-toxic materials which will not harm nestlings. Pressure treated would is not good! Pressure treated wood can release toxic chemicals as the wood ages.
6. Paint: Try not to buy brightly painted birdhouses, but keep them natural colors or unpainted. Unpainted is preferable. Birds hide their nests and brightly colored birdhouses will only attract predators. Decorative birdhouses are very pretty, but you can get pretty and practical birdhouses which will keep the nestling safe.7. Perches: Do not get perches on birdhouses. The birds do not need them and they just give predators something to help them climb on. If your birdhouse has a perch, these are usually easily removed.
8. Inside Grooves: A bonus for the inside of a birdhouse is grooves along the wall leading to the entrance. These help baby birds climb out on their first journey outside the box. If the birdhouse is made of a material such as cedar, it is probably rough enough for baby birds to get a foothold.
Bird Species that Nest in Boxes
Bird species you may be able to attract to your gardens or backyards with bird houses.
There are approximately 80 species of wild birds in North America which will nest in bird houses, or man made cavities. Some others will nest on platforms or bird shelves, such as the American Robin. If a bird does not naturally nest in a cavity in the wild, it will not use a bird house. Each species of bird has different requirements for entrance hole size, house depth and width. Below is a list of bird species you may be able to attract to your gardens or backyards with bird houses.1. American Kestrels
2. Ash-throated Flycatchers
3. Barred Owls
4. Barrow's Goldeneyes
5. Bewick's Wrens
6. Black-capped Chickadees
7. Buffleheads
8. Carolina Wrens
9. Chestnut-backed Chickadees
10. Common Barn Owls
11. Common Goldeneyes
12. Common Mergansers
13. Downy Woodpeckers
14. Eastern and Western Screech Owls
15. Eastern Bluebirds
16. European Starlings
17. Golden-fronted Woodpeckers
18. Great Crested Flycatchers
19. Hairy Woodpeckers
20. Hooded Mergansers
21. House Finches
22. House Sparrows
23. House Wrens
24. Juniper Titmice
25. Mountain Bluebirds
26. Mountain Chickadees
27. Northern Flickers
28. Northern Saw-whet Owls
29. Oat Titmice
30. Purple Martins
31. Woodpeckers
32. Nuthatches
33. Tufted Titmice
34. Western Bluebirds
Where you can buy pretty yet functional bird feeders and baths in cement, copper, resin and fiberglass. Includes some beautiful garden staking bath/feeders, sundial baths and squirrel proof feeders. Their birdhouses range from practical to truly grand indoor outdoor decorative, Worth the fun of checking out!A huge selection of garden water fountains and bird baths. These range from solar fountains to ornate tiered baths to full landscaping waterfall systems in cement, copper, resin and fiberglass.
We included Home Living Style because they have some of the most fancy bird houses we have seen. Highly decorative and detailed, they are great for indoor decorating but can be used outside also.
A small selection of birding supplies but you should just visit them! Each piece is art, this is not your run of the mill stuff. Beautiful and unique items in copper, stoneware and glass.
The whimsical and decorative here. Rustic metal feeders and painted decorative bird houses along with glass feeding bowls and a lovely selection of decorative glass and beaded hummingbird feeders.
Lovely garden accents in in cement, copper, resin and fiberglass. They have a large selection of bird baths and several tray feeders which are quite unique. Worth the browse!
You can buy bird feeders, bird houses and baths. Some of their pedestal bird baths are quite different! Their houses range from outlandishly decorative indoor outdoor bird houses to practical.
Backyard bird feeding
A blog on feeding & sheltering wild birds.
Birdhouse Links
Bird conservation through putting up boxes.
Some links to help understand why building or putting up bird houses can help.
- North American Bluebird Society
- The North American Bluebird Society is a non-profit education, conservation and research organization that promotes the recovery of bluebirds and other native cavity-nesting bird species in North America.
- Audubon WatchList 2002
- An Early Warning System for Bird Conservation. Audubon's WatchList 2002 is designed specifically to highlight those bird species that have the greatest conservation needs. Audubon and its partners work across the U.S. to identify and protect habitats that are critical to populations of WatchList species. Since many WatchList species winter south of the U.S., Audubon's Latin American and Caribbean program is helping to protect habitats throughout the hemisphere.
- Ivory-billed Woodpecker Cornell Ornithology
- Ivory-billed Woodpecker Mobile Search Team -
Four expert searchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have returned after five months traveling through the southeast to assist with ivory-bill searches in other states. Read all about it in their travel log and enjoy some great pictures. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker was thought extinct until recently. This cavity dwelling bird was thought extinct due to loss of habitat.
by wildlifegirl
I am an avid backyard bird watcher and friend of wildlife. Birding is
something I do for myself as I find it very peaceful, and I love the
sound of so...
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