Duncraft's Guide to Bird Houses

More Bird House Info:

1. Before Buying a Bird House
2. Specs for Bird House Nesting Boxes
3. List of Birds That Live In Bird Houses
4. The Right Placement & Territory Size
5. When, Where and How Many Houses
6. Solutions on How to Keep Predators Out
7. How to Help Birds Make Nests
8. Building Habitats for Birds

When, Where and How Many Bird Houses

Anytime is the right time to put up your bird house

As birds begin to search for a place to make their nest, make sure your bird house is up and ready for their inspection. This timing means that bird houses may need to put up in the last days of winter or very early spring. But what if it is past that optimal time? Is all lost for an entire season? No, certainly not! Birds may find the nesting place they originally chose in early spring to be unsuitable for actual nesting. Or they may have found that predators located the nest too easily. Or a young male may have found his new mate a bit late in the season. These birds will be needing a nestbox, so why not your new bird house? Remember, many types of birds raise more than one nest of baby birds each year.

Also as the weather changes in the late fall and into the winter, non-migratory birds can use bird houses to escape from the chilling rain, wind, snow or ice.

Face your bird house away from the prevailing winds of spring and summer, if possible. Some people swear that the compass direction makes a difference. Perhaps it is so because of the winds. Also place the bird house where there is a nearby tree or bush. Parent birds may land for a few minutes on this handy perch to survey the area, making sure it is safe to proceed into the house. They also may sit outside the house at times, watching the area for danger from which to defend the bird house.

Birds can be a bit choosy in their future home. Some will inspect several houses before deciding on a particular one. You may wish to give the birds a few to look over in your yard, knowing that only one will be occupied. By giving them a choice, you might keep them from choosing that other one in your neighbor's yard!

Sometimes you will get lucky and have a pair of birds occupy a bird house within hours of the time you put it up. Sometimes it takes weeks, months, or even years. If a bird house has not been used after a year, try moving it to a different location.

HABITAT TIP: "A complete program includes establishing trees, shrubs, vines and flowers that not only produce food but also provide cover. Many decorative trees and shrubs furnish fruits and berries for birds. Holly, hawthorn and persimmon are favorites of Cedar Waxwings. They will arrive in large flocks in winter in some states and stay as long as the food supply lasts. Quite often in new housing developments, trees and shrubs that birds use for nesting, perching and escaping predators may be in short supply. Birds need places to perch overnight and vantage points from which they may not only view the feeder but also watch for potential predators. Evergreens offer valuable year-round cover from the weather in addition to secluded nesting sites. To increase the popularity of your feeding station, furnish water--preferably year-round. By selecting the right seed for your bird-feeding station and by landscaping with plants that furnish cover and additional food, you can join the 62 million Americans who invite these colorful and fascinating creatures into their yards." Habitat Tip -- Missouri Department of Conservation