Birdhouses are designed for birds that normally use natural cavities or create their own in trees for nesting and to raise their young. The most common birds to use birdhouses are bluebirds, swallows, chickadees, tufted titmice, nuthatches, wrens and house sparrows.
The size of the opening can somewhat determine what kind of bird you attract. For instance, a 1" hole will allow only a wren while a 1.5" hole will allow any bird the size of a bluebird or smaller to use it. The 1.5" hole will also deter European Starlings from using the box.
The best time to put up a house is today! Birds actually often choose the house they will use long before nesting season so it's best to put them up and leave them up. It is also a good idea to clean out the house after the young birds have left the nest. If the birds are going to nest again they will build a new nest in no time and it will be much cleaner and healthier to have the new one. Not only that but nest building is part of their bonding and not a chore!
With our clearing of land and cutting down dead and dying trees, putting up a birdhouse for the birds around our backyards is something they will greatly appreciate and we have the bonus of watching them go about their daily activities of raising a family!
Woody’s Birdhouses
One of our biggest suppliers of birdhouses is Woody’s, a one man operation based out of Monson, MA just 60 miles from our store. Owner Mike has been hand making high quality birdhouses from western red cedar, known for it’s weather resistance, for us since 2005. All major joints are screwed together (rather than nailed or stapled) for durability. Fasteners are yellow zinc plated or galvanized which do not rust and insure years of enjoyment. To preserve the appearance of the cedar, a latex wood preservative can be used and is not toxic to birds. Each bird house is designed with proper ventilation and drainage to provide a safe habitat, with easy clean-outs to make removal of old nesting materials possible without tools.