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BIRDHOUSES |

Birdhouses come in many shapes and forms. Some are functional, some are not as functional but no one can deny the fact that there is something about a birdhouse that is special, as well as, beautiful. We all love bird houses! Every year thousands of trees are cut down to make way for new subdivisions. While we are building our own homes, cavity nesting birds may be losing their homes. You can do your part for the environment by providing bird houses for the birds in your backyard or elsewhere. Bluebird trails, wren houses, chickadee houses, purple martin houses, cute and decorative birdhouses, whatever it is, you will be helping the environment and helping birds find new homes and provide for their families. We are all part of this planet why not help each other
Landscape your yard for the birds
By providing trees and plants that attract birds, you will be doing your part to help the environment, birds and other wildlife. Buying a new home? Think about what your home has taken away from the wildlife that occupied the area before you. Provide food, shelter and water for the wildlife that surround you by incorporating it into your lanscaping. This can all add value to your property while adding beauty and tranquility to your environment as well. If you build it for them, they will come.
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BIRD HOUSE DIMENSIONS
BIRD SPECIES | FLOOR SIZE | BOX HEIGHT | ENTRANCE ABOVE
FLOOR
| ENTRANCE
HOLE | HEIGHT ABOVE GROUND | | American Robin* | 7" x 8" | 8" | ---- | ---- | 6-15' | | Barn Owls | 10" x 18" | 15-18" | 4" | 6" | 12-18' |
| Bluebirds | 5" x 5" | 8-12" | 6-10" | 1 1/2 to 1 9/16" | 4-6' | | Chickadees | 4" x 4" | 8-10" | 6-8" | 1 1/8" | 4-15' | | Common & Northern Flicker | 7" x 7" | 16-18" | 14-16" | 2 1/2" | 6-20' | | Flycatchers | 6" x 6" | 8-12" | 6-10" | 1 1/2 to 1 /4" | 5-15' | | House Finch | 6" x 6" | 6" | 4" | 2" | 8-12' | | House Sparrows | 4" x 4" to 5" x 5" | 9-12" | 6-7" | 1 3/16 - 2" | -- | | Nuthatches | 4" x 4" | 8-10" | 6-8" | 1 1/4 to 1 3/8" | 5-15' | | Osprey | 48" x 48" Platform | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | | Phoebes | 6" x 6" | 6" | ---- | ---- | 8-12' | | Purple Martins | 6" x 6" | 6" | 1-2" | 1 3/4" - 2 1/4" | 10-15' | | Downy Woodpecker | 4" x 4" | 8-10" | 6-8" | 1 1/4" | 5-15' | | Hairy Woodpecker | 6" x 6" | 12-15" | 9-12" | 1 1/2" | 8-20' | | Pileated Woodpecker | 8" x 8" | 16-24" | 12-20" | 3x4" | 15-25' | | Red-Bellied Woodpecker | 6" x 6" | 12-15" | 9-12" | 2 1/2" | 10-20' | | Red-Headed Woodpecker | 6" x 6" | 12-15" | 9-12" | 2" | 10-20' | | Red-Tailed Hawk and Great Horned
Owl | 24" x 24" Platform | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | | Screech Owls and Kestrels | 8" x 8" | 12-15" | 9-12" | 3" | 10-30' | | Barn Swallows* | 6" x 6" | 6" | ---- | ---- | 8-12' | | Violet-Green and Tree
Swallows | 5" x 5" | 6-8" | 4-6" | 1 1/2" | 5-15' | | Titmice | 4" x 4" | 10-12" | 6-10" | 1 1/4" | 5-15' | | Prothonotary Warbler | 5" x 5" | 6" | 4-5" | 1 1/8" | 4-8' | | Wood Ducks | 10" x 18" | 10-24" | 12-16" | 4" | 10-20' |
| Wrens | 4" x 4" | 6-8" | 4-6" | 1 to 1 1/2" | 5-10' | | Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker | 5" x 5" | 12-15" | 9-12" | 1 1/2" | 10-20' | |
*NOTE:Robins prefer nesting on a nesting shelf. This is a nestbox with a bottom, 2 sides and a roof. The front is open and the nest is visible from the front.
TIPS FOR BUILDING YOUR OWN BIRD HOUSES
When building bird houses you should:
Choose the right material to build your birdhouses. Birds in the wild, nest in old trees, fence post or utility poles, wood is the preferred material for building bird houses.
Ideally, a naturally decay-resistant wood such as cedar, redwood or a good grade of exterior plywood is best for building bird houses.
Wood should be 3/4" thick anything less will allow heat to build up which is detrimental to young birds.
Avoid using paint, especially dark paint (absorbs heat) Natural looking houses will be more attractive to birds.
Make sure that you provide proper drainage so as to keep the nest and its contents dry. You can do this with an ample overhang on the roof and 1/4" drain holes bored in each corner of the floor.
Ventilation can be provided by drilling 1/2" vent holes at the top of each side or with a ventilation gap between the roof and sides.
The hole dimension probably is the most critical when building bird houses. If it is too small, your chosen bird species may not be able to enter the house. If it is too large, it could allow bigger, more aggressive species such as starlings or sparrows to use the houses.
Predator guards are another necessary feature. These can be as simple as an additional piece of wood at the entry hole to add more "depth" to the face of the box.
This makes it more difficult for a predator to reach into the nest. You also can drill the entry hole at an angle to deflect a predator's reach up and away from the nest.
Never add a perch when building bird houses. Birds don't need it, but it could be an advantage to predators.
Once the young are ready to fledge, building an easy exit is necessary. This can be done in several ways. You can place the rough side of the wood to the inside of the house, you can score the inside of the box or you can add a piece of small gauge screen or small pieces of wood to act as a ladder for the young birds.
You also must provide easy access for clean out. You can do this simply by hinging the front panel or one of the side panels or by having a removable floor or roof.
Building bird houses is a hobby that can be fun and rewarding. Consider giving bird houses as gifts to friends and family. Even if they are not now a birdwatcher, they might become one once they see a family of birds nesting in the house that you built.
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NEW ITEMS |
SPECIALS |
BACKYARDBIRDWATCHER HOME |
ACCESSORIES |
Bird Feeders-Seed Trays |
Bird House Extras |
Cleaning Accessories |
Hangers and Hanger Accessories |
Hummingbird Feeder Accessories |
Nesting Materials |
Poles And Pole Accessories |
Squirrel Baffles |
Feeder Cages |
Hanging Squirrel Baffles |
Post Mounted Squirrel Baffles |
Weather Dome |
Window Warnings |
BIRD BATHS |
Accessories for Bird Baths |
Fountain Bird Baths |
Wall Mount Bird Baths |
Heated Bird Baths |
Heated Deck or Rail Mount Bird Baths |
Ground Bird Baths |
Standing Bird Baths |
BIRD BATH HEATERS AND DEICERS |
NONHEATED BIRD BATHS |
Non Heated Deck or Rail Mount Bird Baths |
Non Heated Ground Bird Baths |
Non Heated Hanging Bird Baths |
Non Heated Standing Bird Baths |
Stands and Pedestals |
BIRD FEEDERS |
Blue Bird Feeders |
Cage Feeders |
Decorative Feeders |
Gazebo Feeders |
Hopper Feeders |
Platform Tray Feeders |
Specialty Feeders |
Upside Down Bird Feeders |
Woodlink Products |
HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS |
Hummingbird Accessories |
Blown Glass Hummingbird Feeders |
Hummingbird Books and Media |
Bottle Style Hummingbird Feeders |
Dish and Saucer Style Hummingbird Feeders |
Hummingbird Food |
Hummingbird Feeder Kits and Packages |
Window Mounted Hummingbird Feeders |
Bird Feeder Kits and Packages |
Oriole Feeders |
Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders |
Baffle Style Squirrel Proof |
Caged Feeders Squirrel Proof |
Electric or Motorized Squirrel Proof Feeders |
Kits and Packages Squirrel Proof |
Squirrel Blocker Grid Design Feeders |
Weight Sensitive Design Squirrel Proof Feeders |
Suet and Seed Cake Feeders |
Tube Feeders |
Peanut Tube Feeders |
Nyger Thistle Tube Feeders |
Sunflower/Mixed Tube Feeders |
WINDOW BIRD FEEDERS |
BIRD HOUSES |
Bluebird Houses |
Decorative Birdhouses |
Duck Houses |
Finch/Swallow Houses |
Birdhouse Kits and Packages |
Owl Houses |
Martin Houses |
Purple Martin Books and Media |
Conventional Purple Martin Houses |
Gourds and Gourd Racks |
Purple Martin Kits and Packages |
Purple Martin House Accessories |
Martin Poles and Pole Accessories |
Robin Houses |
Woodpecker/Flicker Houses |
Wren/Chickadee Houses |
BIRDING TOOLS |
Bird Calls |
BirdSong Identiflyer |
Nature Monitors |
PURPLE MARTIN HOUSES |
Books and Media-Purple Martin |
Conventional Martin Houses |
Gourds and Gourd Rack Systems |
Kits and Packages-Purple Martin |
Martin House Accessories |
Pole and Pole Accessories-Purple Martin |
SEED, SUET AND FOOD |
Bird Feed Dispensers |
Mealworms |
Seed Cakes, Bells and Blocks |
Suet |
Wild Bird Seed |
OTHER WILDLIFE |
Bats and Bat Houses |
Butterfly Houses and Feeders |
Ladybug Houses |
Squirrel Feeders |
Toad Houses | |