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Bird Houses Basics

The document provides guidelines for building birdhouses tailored to attract various bird species, including specific designs for different birds like the American Kestrel and Bluebird. Key recommendations include using wood, avoiding perches, ensuring proper drainage and ventilation, and positioning houses appropriately to reduce territorial conflicts. It also advises on maintenance, such as cleaning and managing unwanted tenants like house sparrows and starlings.

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harshsales.2008
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0 views3 pages

Bird Houses Basics

The document provides guidelines for building birdhouses tailored to attract various bird species, including specific designs for different birds like the American Kestrel and Bluebird. Key recommendations include using wood, avoiding perches, ensuring proper drainage and ventilation, and positioning houses appropriately to reduce territorial conflicts. It also advises on maintenance, such as cleaning and managing unwanted tenants like house sparrows and starlings.

Uploaded by

harshsales.2008
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Building bird houses http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/buildingbh.

htm

American Kestrel, Northern Screech-owl, Gray Squirrel, Red


Squirrel, and Fox Squirrel Nest Box
Northern Flicker Nest Box
Peterson Bluebird House
American Robin and Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow and Eastern Bluebird
House Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch

Small Bat House


Johnson Bat House

Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser Nest Box


Burrowing Owl Nest Tunnel

Building Bird Houses

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Building bird houses http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/buildingbh.htm

Birdhouses are an easy way to have more birds around your home or in your woodlot. On
this web site, are explained how to build houses for different kinds of birds and tips for
setting them up.
By tailoring the bird house you build to the needs of species you want to attract will
increase your chances of success.
For all houses, here are some general guidelines:
1. Provide a hinged side or roof so you can easily clean the house each spring — early
March is a good time. Use rust-proof hinges to make this task easier. Keep in mind that
raccoons can open a hook and eye!

2. Drill at least four ¼-inch drain holes in the bottom of every house, and two 5/8-inch
ventilation holes near the top of each side of the house.
3. Provide a roof with at least a two-inch overhang on the front to protect the entrance hole
from wind-driven rain, and to prevent cats from reaching in from above.
4. The sides of the house should enclose the floor to keep rain from seeping into the house
and nest. Recess the floor ¼ inch up from the bottom to further prevent rotting caused by
moisture.
5. Don’t put perches on any bird house. (Take them off houses that you purchase.) The
only birds that prefer them are starlings and house sparrows.
6. On songbird houses keep entrance holes 1 3/8 inches or smaller to keep out starlings and
house sparrows. (Purple martins are an exception.)
7. Space next boxes at least 25 feet apart (300 feet for bluebird houses) to reduce conflicts.
Most birds are territorial and protect the area around their nest. Goldeneye, mergansers and
wood ducks are not territorial, so you can place their houses closer together. Purple martins
live in colonies and prefer "apartment houses" to single family houses.
8. Wood is the best material to use. Avoid pressure-treated lumber because when it gets
wet it can give off vapors that are poisonous to birds. Preservatives, such as paint or stain,
can be used on the outside of the box, especially the back, but not on the inside. Avoid
using creosote as a preservative.
9. Do not use tin cans, milk cartons or metal for nest boxes. They can overheat and kill the
eggs and young birds. The only exceptions are commercial aluminum martin houses.
10. Other animals may take up residence in your boxes, including mice, squirrels, bees and
wasps. If unwanted, remove them (be very careful not to get stung!), otherwise put up a
few extra boxes to make room for both the expected and unexpected tenants.

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Building bird houses http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/buildingbh.htm

11. House sparrow and starling nests and eggs can be removed as they are not protected by
state or federal law. You need to be persistent, removing the nest repeatedly until the birds
finally give up.
12. Most houses should be attached to a post, building or tree. Bluebird boxes should not
be placed on trees because of cats and raccoons.

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