We all know birds need to eat and drink to survive. But quite often we forget about their shelter. Not all birds create their own homes. Some birds like woodpeckers and chickadees excavate cavities in tree trunks for nesting and roosting. Many other species such as wrens, bluebirds, titmice, and some ducks and owls, nest in cavities that other birds have made. Nest boxes offer these birds a place to raise their young, especially where natural cavities are at a premium. About 80 species of birds nest in cavities and are candidates for using a nest box. Remember that the kinds of birds you’ll attract are affected by where you live and what the surrounding habitat is like.
Our sales associates can guide you in finding the right nesting box for your yard and offer information about nest box placement and how to avoid predators. Don’t forget the nesting material! If you put up a nest box, please be a responsible landlord. Nest boxes should be maintained on a regular basis. Unmonitored nest boxes can easily become home to House Sparrows or Starlings, that aggressively compete with native birds, destroying eggs and chicks and sometimes vulnerable adult birds.
Now is the prefect time of year to put up nesting boxes. Having a bird-friendly yard has never been more important – nearly 80 percent of wildlife habitat in the United States is in private hands, and an average of 2.1 million acres each year are converted to residential use. This leaves less forested areas that contain rotting wood for nesting cavities. Support our wildlife, cohabitate with the birds this year.
