squirrel proof - Bird Houses

Image via Wikipedia

A Guide To Bird Houses
By Baker
Building a bird house is very interesting thing to do. Everybody loves birds and you can provide these birds a place to live at your backyard. The bird house saves the birds from their enemies and provides shelter to them. Bird houses give an attractive look to the backyards with stylish painted bird houses. Keeping different color combinations attract different birds. And it also helps to witness some beautiful colored birds in your backyard and getting a chance to become one with the nature.

Birds like their nests at a height and you don’t have to worry if you don’t have a tree. The bird houses should be made at a height of six feet from the ground level which helps in attracting more birds. There are some species of birds those prefer a height of maximum twenty feet high from the ground level. By nature these birds are like that only that they prefer making their homes at such an elevation as they feel safer.

An appropriate bird house should be able to provide cover and protection for the birds. The bird houses should be able to protect them in all weather. It should also provide proper exposure to air. During the summer weather the bird houses should be kept shaded as the eggs needs proper temperature to get hatched. The bird houses should have the roofs that overhang at the entrance. The bird houses should be hinge gap from the base so that it could easily get cleaned.

Here are some guidelines before you make a final decision:

* First and foremost it is very important to decide which type of birds you want to keep, so that the shape is appropriate. Keeping the openings small will attract small birds.


* Ducks, Woodpeckers, and other large birds require bird houses with bigger

space.

# The material should be made up of wood. The bird houses could also be made by metal but it might be dangerous for the birds as there is a risk of excessive heating in the summers. A bird house is appropriate if it is made up of wood as they coming out or newly born. Making use of paint could also be harmful for the new born as there is a risk of chemical reaction. If you want to use paint or some decorative products then make it sure that it is used at the outside of the bird house.

# Introducing the bird houses with green surroundings has a negative impact as the birds you want to attract might not even notice the bird house you have built. The other major reason is the risk of other predators could easily target. Majority of the birds prefer making their bird houses on the trees which are dead. It is also safer from getting attacked by some predator as the attacker won’t get any place to hide.

# If you are planning to keep more than one family then make sure that you situate them separately. It is in the nature of some birds that they are very protective about their nests and choose to live in solitude. Preferably it should be kept at such a distance that they are not visible to each other. You should make them as comfortable as possible and the birds should not think unsafe for one moment otherwise they will be forced to desert your bird house.

To make the birds feel good make sure to apply bird baths and shower with seeds of the flowers. In the end make sure that the bird house that you select has a door or an opening so that it is convenient to change the nests. There should be proper arrangement of drainage. Keep in mind the height for hanging the bird house while you are deciding a particular spot as it matters a lot.

Read More

finch feeders

Image by Durotriges via Flickr

Creating A Bird-friendly Backyard With Wooden Bird Houses

The hustle and bustle of city life is all most people know these days. Between jobs, after-school activities and the rest of life's demands, when is there time to really kick back and enjoy nature?

While you may not see an opening in your schedule to head out on a nature vacation, why not create a natural escape in your backyard. Even small backyards can be natural havens. It all starts with a few wooden bird houses.

Whether buying or making it, a wild bird house is a very simple addition that can bring color and life to your backyard. You need to know the kinds of birds you want to attract, and then use the right bird houses to attract them.

Many birds are regional. If you don't know what birds live in your area, you may want to do a little online research for 'bird watching' and your state or region to get information about the birds that are regularly found near you.

Next, consider the size of wild bird house you want to hang. If you are trying to draw smaller birds like chickadees or wrens, you should choose a smaller bird house with a smaller opening. The birds don't want company, so a hole that lets them in and keeps others out is perfect. Make sure there is enough room inside. If you are looking to attract woodpeckers or other larger birds, size the house up accordingly.

Think natural when it comes to wild bird houses. We recommend wooden bird houses. This is a natural material, which the birds are used to being around.

Many people see the words 'weather treated' on wooden bird houses and think this is a great idea. After all, won't that keep the bird house from rotting or breaking down from the elements? It is better for the birds if you take your chances with the weather. Weather treating is done through chemically treating the wood. Those

chemicals in wooden bird houses may not be healthy for the birds who move in. It's best to go with untreated woods. Pressure treated, processed, or even painted woods (at least inside) should be avoided as paint or chemically treated parts of wood bird houses could harm birds, especially hatchlings.

Consider your weather conditions. Slanted roofs help the rain to roll off wooden bird houses. If you get a lot of rain in your area, making sure the roof is a little wider than the top will allow the rain to roll off. This will lessen the chance of it getting inside. Baby birds can drown in small amounts of rain.

In case water gets inside, can it drain out? Very small holes in the floor can help with this, keeping your wooden bird house dry. This is not only healthy for the birds, but can also help to avoid rotting in the wood. Add a few holes in the side or back of the wild bird house while you are at it, to offer your birds fresh air.

Choose wooden bird houses that are easy to clean. Birds are messy and wild bird houses need to be cleaned out or waste will really pile up. Many wooden bird houses have a back or side door that can be opened for cleaning. Do this regularly (at the end of the breeding season) as a filthy bird house can lead to disease and make all the birds sick.

When putting up a wild bird house, think about predators. Cats and raccoons are the most likely culprits. If you have a wild bird house perched on top of a thin pole, it is harder for them to climb to it. You should put any wooden bird houses a minimum of three feet off the ground, preferably higher.

Want to really get points with the birds, Don't forget to put a feeder or two and some water near their wooden bird houses, so they have access to everything they need in your backyard.

Read More

wild bird seed

Image by ShutterSparks via Flickr

Feeding Birds All Year Round Is A Joy
By Mumby
Feeding birds year round is not only enjoyable but also helpful to some feathered friends who may need a little help during certain times of the year. Hard-pressed parents busy with nesting benefit from feeding, as do their young who often come to the feeders too. Feeding birds can attract some of the more aggressive birds to your yard as well, which may mean that your poor cat is besieged by mocking birds. Remember thought that with a large group of birds comes a large group of bird-droppings. Feeding birds is both entertaining and rewarding. Whether seedeaters, hummingbirds or fruit eaters are in your yard, you can offer each a little something special.


Feeding birds is an enjoyable and rewarding pastime during West Virginia's cold and often snow-filled months. The movement, color and life of the birds outside the window help remind us that spring really isn't too many months away.

Feeders made of plastic and ceramic will be the easiest to maintain this way; wooden feeders should be disinfected with something other than bleach so the wood won't fade. Feeder placement can also play a role in window strikes. In some instances,

hawks will drive birds into a window to stun them and make them easier to catch.

Feeding birds is a commitment and just like cleaning up after a human meals, you must be willing to clean up the area where you feed the birds. Feeding birds is a popular backyard activity in Florida--a 1985 survey revealed that 66 percent of all respondents had fed birds or other wildlife around their homes in the past year. There's certainly no easier place to introduce children and adults alike to the joys of bird-watching than at a backyard feeder. Feeding birds can be very enjoyable and lots of fun. There are many types of feeders and each will attract different birds.

Feeding birds is the quickest way to attract birds to your yard.
wild bird seed

Read More