Bird House Buying Guide

Look for function, not frills

Some bird houses are, simply, not for the birds. They may be pretty to look at, or match the colors of your house, but they may not provide the best environment for your feathered friends and, in fact, may even be harmful to them. Depending on what birds are native to your area, what other wildlife lives in your area and how much time you can devote to maintaining the bird house, you can find one that’s best suited to the birds in your yard that also let you watch them to the fullest.

To get the most enjoyment from your bird house, you’ll need to ensure it has occupants.  Find out what the most common bird species are in your area. You can do this by simple observation or identifying the birds you see with a guide book; many newspapers also publish bird-watching reports that tally the numbers and kinds of birds seen in the vicinity. Different types of birds prefer different types of houses, so you will want to select a house that’s appropriate for the varieties of birds who live nearby.

Built to last

Construction of the bird house is important, both from a materials and a design standpoint. Non-toxic materials are a must, and wooden bird houses are most like the natural environment. Avoid metal roofs that absorb heat, causing the temperature inside a bird house to rise to levels that are dangerous for hatchlings.

A bird house’s interior should not have any paint or stain, as this could be poisonous to its residents. You should also treat the inside of the bird house’s roof with bar soap, which will repel insects. A good bird house will have a hinged top or side, so that you can peek in to see the nest and chicks, and also so you can clean it thoroughly after each brood flies the coop. The bird house’s roof should overhang one or two inches past the top of the wall that holds the entrance opening, giving some extra protection from the elements.

Sizing a bird house

Bird houses are available in various sizes, and the dimensions of your bird house should, again, be based on which kinds of birds are most likely to take up residence in it. Most types of birds prefer a one-room box, but others, such as purple martins, nest in groups and will want a bird house with at least four rooms and four openings. It’s important that your bird house has proper ventilation and drainage. If it fills with rain, chicks will drown. If air does not circulate well, the bird house will overheat.

Your bird house should be designed to provide easy access for its inhabitants, easy access for you, and no access to predators and pests. The bird house’s entrance hole should be only large enough to accommodate the birds you wish to live in it; generally a 1- to 1.5-inch-diameter hole is sufficient. Bigger holes invite predators—hawks and squirrels, for instance—to invade the bird house and kill the chicks or to evict the occupants and take over the box for their own.

Birds do not need a perch outside a bird house’s entrance hole. In fact, your bird house should not have an exterior perch, as it may allow predators to gain access to the bird house. The height of the entrance hole from the bird-house floor is another thing to evaluate. Make sure that a bird house has some grooves on the inside wall beneath the entrance opening. These grooves make it easier for young birds to leave the bird house when they are ready to fly.

Location, location, location

Once you’ve found the right bird house, where and how should you hang it? Some birds prefer to nest at higher elevations, but anywhere between 4 and 10 feet off the ground is the general rule of thumb. A bird house that stands at the top of a simple, metal pole will be safest from attack by squirrels.

Position the bird house away from prevailing winds and near a tree or bush where the birds can sit and observe their house easily from outside. The bird house’s opening should not face south or east, for too much sunlight and warmth will disturb the birds inside.

You may be lucky enough to have birds take up residence in your bird house within hours of its installation. If the bird house is not used within a few months, try a new location. If you plan to have multiple bird houses in your yard, each one should have at least a 100-square-foot area to itself. Birds are territorial and they like their privacy.

A bird house for all seasons

Birds search for their nesting place in the final days of winter and in the early spring, but don’t let that stop you from putting up a bird house at other times of the year. Birds are known for being fickle and fussy, and they may change their minds about their original home. Many species of birds nest more than once a year. Non-migrating birds will look for bird houses as shelter during the winter months.

Bird houses run from under $25 to over $700. If you are feeling handy, build-your-own bird house kits are a great way to make your new hobby even more fun. The entire family can work together, and then enjoy the fruits of their labor watching beautiful birds nest and raise their chicks right outside your window.  With proper care and cleaning, a well-made wooden bird house should last you and your yard-mates about 10 years.

Need to know more?

• Bird House Measurements for Common Species
  http://birding.about.com/library/blhousespecs.htm
• Height, Placement and Territory Size for Bird Houses
  http://www.duncraft.com/Bird-House-Height-Placement-and-Territory-W80C167.aspx
• Track Birds in Your Area
  http://ebird.org/content/ebird/