Putting up a birdhouse is an exciting way to attract beautiful birds into your yard. With some strategic planning and care, your new birdhouse can become a popular spot for local birds to nest, roost, and raise their young. Here are some tips to get the most out of your birdhouse investment and create an avian paradise right outside your window.
Choose the Right Location
One of the most important factors in attracting birds to your birdhouse is placing it in the proper location. Consider the following when deciding where to install your birdhouse:
- Place the birdhouse 5-15 feet off the ground.
- Select a location with partial sun exposure.
- Face the entrance hole away from prevailing winds.
- Keep clear flight paths around the entrance.
This protects young birds from predators. Mount the house on a tree, post, or wall firmly enough to withstand winds and interfering predators.
Avoid hot southern exposures. A few hours of sunlight with some midday shade provides a comfortable temperature range.
This will keep strong gusts out of the nesting chamber. Position the hole facing east is ideal.
Birds will abandon houses that have obstacles around them. Trim away any encroaching branches and brush nearby.
Choose the Right Design
The dimensions, construction, and additional features of your birdhouse will determine which species take up residence. Keep these considerations in mind:
- Match the hole size to the species desired.
- Use rough-textured wood at least 1 1⁄4” thick.
- The house should be rain-proof with adequate ventilation.
- Include a way to clean out old nesting material annually.
The diameter ranges from 1-1 1⁄2” for chickadees and nuthatches to 2-2 1⁄2” for bluebirds and swallows. Woodpeckers, owls, and kestrels need even larger holes.
Avoid wood treated with chemicals. Pine, fir, cedar, and redwood boards are good choices.
Adding small drainage holes in the base and ventilation gaps under the eaves allows airflow without too much exposure.
A side, roof, or front panel that opens will allow you to clean the box out after birds fledge in the summer.
Meet Habitat Needs
Providing what birds need to thrive nearby goes hand-in-hand with putting up housing. Here are some ways to make sure your yard’s habitat encourages birds to stay:
- Landscape with native plants and trees.
- Incorporate berry bushes, nut trees, and seed/suet feeders.
- Include a water source like a birdbath or fountain.
- Limit or avoid pesticide use.
Choose a variety of species that provide food, shelter, and nesting spots. For example, evergreens supply shelter year-round.
Food sources provide supplemental winter nutrition and teach birds to frequent your yard.
Fresh drinking and bathing water are especially critical in dry regions.
Insect prey are an essential food for feeding nestlings. Organic approaches keep their food source intact.
Maintain Your Birdhouse
Check your birdhouse at least yearly and perform maintenance to ensure ideal conditions. Here are some upkeep tasks that will keep birds coming back:
- Clean out old nesting materials after young have fledged.
- Sterilize with a 10% bleach solution if needed.
- Make any needed repairs.
- Apply fresh pest-free wood chips or shavings.
- Re-waterproof if necessary.
Use gloves and a wire brush to scrub out any mites, nestlice or debris.
Rinse out thoroughly and allow to air dry before the next nesting season.
Fix holes, cracks, loose fittings, etc. so the shelter remains protective.
Natural soft bedding invites nest building. Do not use synthetics.
Maintain weather tightness with outdoor-grade caulk, sealant and preservative.
Where to Place Birdhouses to Attract Birds
Birdhouse placement is key to attracting feathered friends. Follow these tips on where to install nest boxes and houses in your yard:
Mount Birdhouses on Trees
Living trees make ideal sites for hanging birdhouses. Their branches provide natural cover and safety:
- Face the entrance hole toward the tree trunk.
- Choose a mature tree limb around 5-15 feet up.
- Pick trees with dense foliage for shelter.
- Select trees located 30 feet from brush and tall grass.
- Avoid weak or dead tree limbs.
This provides a wide landing space away from predators.
Hang the house with wire or chain out of the path of falling debris.
Evergreen trees offer year-round protection from the elements.
This keeps nests safe from surprise attacks by predators.
Only use branches that can firmly bear the birdhouse’s weight.
Mount Birdhouses on Metal Poles
Installing a metal pole in your yard specifically for a birdhouse keeps it safely off the ground. Pick locations wisely:
- Place poles 15-20 feet from bushes, fences or walls.
- Choose a spot visible from your home.
- Insert the pole 2 feet into the ground.
- Add predator guards if possible.
- Point entrance holes toward open land or water.
Open visibility lets parent birds watch for dangers.
Enjoy easier bird watching without disturbing nests.
This prevents loosening and tipping over time.
Baffles below the house deter climbing animals.
Approaching birds prefer a clear flight path.
Mount Birdhouses on Building Structures
The outside of homes, sheds and garages also work for nesting sites. Follow these guidelines:
- Pick sheltered areas under overhangs or eaves.
- Face entrance holes away from prevailing winds.
- Place houses 15 feet above ground.
- Avoid areas near frequently used doors.
- Direct the entrance away from bright lights.
Protective cover makes birds comfortable.
Side positioning prevents gusts into the cavity.
This altitude deters most predators.
High traffic will deter nesting.
Nesting birds avoid illumination at night.
When to Put Up Birdhouses for Birds
Installing birdhouses at the ideal time of year helps ensure quick occupancy as birds seek nesting sites. Follow this yearly timeline:
Late Winter
Hang birdhouses anytime between January and early March before spring migration starts. This gives time to choose shelters and territories.
Early Spring
Cleaning out old nests by mid-March prepares the house for newcomers. Birds often return to the same site year after year if maintained.
Spring Migration
April and May bring nesting season as birds arrive and males stake out spots to attract mates. Now is a prime time to set out new houses.
Summer Nesting
Active nesting and raising young runs from May through July. Observe nests from a distance and don’t disturb.
Late Summer
Monitor fledglings in August as they develop flying skills nearby. Once empty, clean out houses to prevent parasites.
Early Fall
September and October bring the last broods before winter. Continue upkeep for roosting birds that winter over.
Winter Roosting
Clean out any dropped nest parts but leave intact structures up. Birds will use houses to take shelter from the cold mid-fall through winter.
What Kind of Birdhouse Do Different Birds Prefer?
Here is a comparison of popular backyard birds and the ideal birdhouses to attract them:
| Bird Species | House Dimensions | Hole Diameter | Height to Hang |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chickadees | 4 x 4 x 9 inches | 1 1/8 inches | 4 – 15 feet |
| Nuthatches | 4 x 4 x 9 inches | 1 1/4 inches | 5 – 15 feet |
| Bluebirds | 5 x 5 x 9 inches | 1 1/2 inches | 5 – 10 feet |
| Swallows | 6 x 6 x 8 inches | 2 – 2 1/2 inches | 8 – 15 feet |
| Wrens | 4 – 8 inches deep | 1 – 1 1/4 inches | 5 – 10 feet |
| Woodpeckers | 12 x 12 x 12 inches | 2 1/2 – 3 inches | 8 – 20 feet |
Customizing your birdhouses to the right dimensions and installing each at the proper height will attract specific bird species to your yard. Place different house designs together to create a diverse avian community.
Tips for Attracting Birds to Nest in the Birdhouse
Enticing birds into your birdhouses requires creating an attractive sanctuary free of threats. Follow these tips to encourage nesting:
Provide Birdhouse Basics
Start with a basic birdhouse that meets birds’ fundamental needs:
- Choose weatherproof, ventilated houses of untreated wood.
- Include drainage holes in the base.
- Use non-toxic stains or preservatives.
- Ensure a secure front, side or roof opening.
- Add rough interior perches.
Cedar and pine resist moisture and allow air circulation.
Let rain pass through so nests stay dry.
Avoid chemical fumes that could irritate birds.
Enable easy annual cleaning between nestings.
Horizontal slats give young birds a place to hop out the hole.
Pick the Right Location
Proper placement provides protection from the elements and predators:
- Install houses in semi-sheltered spots.
- Place nests 5-15 feet high on trees or poles.
- Point entrance holes away from prevailing winds.
- Ensure clear, safe access pathways.
Avoid overly exposed sites or dense shrubbery that hides threats.
This deters most climbing predators.
Side openings prevent gusts within the cavity.
Birds need open flight routes free of obstructions.
Limit External Disturbances
Minimize unnatural movements and noises around birdhouses:
- Pick secluded spots away from high traffic areas.
- Don’t install near feeders or birdbaths.
- Avoid illumination of the entrance hole.
- Use noise barriers as needed.
Frequent activity can deter nesting.
Coming and going creates commotion at the house.
Install opaque covers on nearby lights.
Strategically placed fencing can buffer audible disturbances.
Deter Predators
Thwart predators like cats, raccoons and snakes with protective measures:
- Add metal predator guards below the house.
- Surround pole-mounted houses with sheet metal.
- Use pest repellents around the base.
- Install plastic owl decoys nearby.
Baffles prevent climbing by animals.
A 3-foot cylindrical guard deters climbing threats.
Strong scents of pepper, garlic or ammonia deter intruders.
Lifelike replicas scare away prowling squirrels, crows and others.
Conclusion
Attracting birds to your new birdhouse requires strategic placement, ideal design features, and careful maintenance to create an attractive and safe nesting spot. Observe activity closely, keep houses clean and well-maintained, and supplement with food and water sources to create a flourishing backyard bird habitat. With some patience for birds to discover your new accommodations, you can enjoy the excitement of seeing your birdhouses become occupied by beautiful and lively tenants!
