March is here, we’re heading for spring, and it’s time to start planning for the party Nature’s going to soon have in your yard. Amongst those attending will be nesting birds. Breeding season is the one time of year that birds cannot escape danger by flying away. For as long as the egg-hatching and fledgling takes, they’re all stuck at the nest. Different birds have evolved different strategies for protection, including stealth and camouflage. But if you’ve got a mated pair scoping out your yard, there are some additional ways you can help them out.
NESTING BOXES
Different folks have different requirements for their nesting space, including entrance size, box dimensions, elevation, material…the list goes on. We’ve got boxes built to the real-estate specifics for bluebirds, purple martins, bats, wrens, chickadees, woodpeckers, squirrels, screech owls, pretty much anyone who may be looking to move into your yard. And if we’ve overlooked one, we’d be glad to order it for you! (Check us out for plans for setting up a bluebird habitat!)
BAFFLES
Every pole supporting a bird house gives access to predators such as snakes, raccoons, squirrels, and opossums. Each of which can make an easy meal of birds and their young! Consider adding a baffle to your pole to leave the climber with nothing to grip, and no way to get higher up the pole.
ENTRANCE GUARDS
Whether or not the house is on a pole, consider an entrance guard. Raccoons and possums are fond of sticking their arms inside houses to get at whoever’s inside; squirrels and some aggressive birds will enlarge the entrance hole of a house for easier “meal” access. An entrance guard addresses both of these scenarios.
WINDOW CLINGS
As we’ve all noticed, breeding season and machismo courtship display brings out the crazy in birds. Use window clings to help them avoid injury (and public embarrassment).
NESTING MATERIALS
Do you have any idea how hard it is to build an entire family-sized nest out of foraged bits of cotton? It’s a lot of work! Check out our nesting materials wreaths and bags, and give those birds some more time to work their mojo.
Timing is everything!
Here’s a brief list of birds common to our area and when they nest:
Cardinals: April
Black Capped Chickadee: April through July
House Wren: April through September
Eastern Bluebird: March through August
Screech Owl: February through March
