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The
Problem:
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There is a shortage of nesting sites for cavity-nesting birds due to
vast land development, the introduction of European Starlings and House
Sparrows along with the use of pesticides. This has resulted in a
drastic reduction of cavity-nesting birds over the last 50 years.
The use of
birdhouses has helped many species of birds make a comeback, such as the
Bluebird. The Eastern Bluebird population had declined by an estimated
90% between the early 1900's and 1970's but the use of nesting boxes
has resulted in a remarkable increase in their populations. You
can attract many birds to your yard by providing houses. More than
50 species of birds will use a birdhouse including Chickadees, Bluebirds,
Titmice, Woodpeckers, Wrens, Swallows and Nuthatches.
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What
can you do? |
- Never use
pesticides on your lawn!
Attracting cavity-nesting birds to your yard will help to reduce
the insect
- Provide
birdhouses or nest boxes. In addition to providing nesting for birds,
houses provide safety and a sheltered place to roost in inclement weather.
- Feed the birds in order to help keep their
populations healthy. Click here for more
information on feeding wild birds.
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| What
to look for in a birdhouse: |
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be able to
be opened for cleaning.
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have
ventilation holes at the top.
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have a
slanted roof to allow water to run off.
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not have
perches as cavity-nesting birds do not need them and they allow predators
access to the nestlings.
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Many believe there are only two types of birdhouses; functional or
decorative. However, there are many decorative birdhouses now being
offered that are also functional. In order to function properly a
birdhouse should:
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Habitat,
placement and care: |
- Place
the house on a pole to discourage predators, however Chickadees
and Woodpeckers prefer the house to be mounted directly to a tree.
- Storms normally come out of the east, place the house facing west,
south or southwest.
- Provide a clear flight pattern to the entrance hole with the
entrance approximately 10 feet away from other trees or fences.
- The
house should receive plenty of sunshine throughout the day.
- When the nesting season comes to an end,
always clean out
the old nesting material and ensure the house is free of debris. Then
leave your house up so birds can use it to roost in the cooler months.
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| Each species of bird has different preferences for habitat and height of
the birdhouse. Use our Nesting
Chart to help you determine the best site
placement of the birdhouse to attract your favorite birds.
Keep in
mind that these are only general guidelines and you can still attract
birds to your house even if you do not live near a wooded area. |
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