Well, perhaps not the only factor, but without considering the placement of the nesting box, you have minimal chance for success.

Where you put your bird house is as important as the design, entrance hole size, materials used, and construction of the box. Cavity nesting birds are very particular about where they live and begin their families. No matter how perfect your nest box, if you don’t have the right habitat, the birds aren’t likely to find it and use it.

Not everyone has the perfect habitat and location for a wood duck, purple martin, or screech owl. On the other hand, just about anyone can attract and entice a robin, titmouse, wren, or chickadee to their yard to rear nestlings.

If you’re reading this artilce I’m going to assume that you have either just built or bought the perfect bird house/nesting box.

But what happens when the birds don’t nest in it? After all it’s been sitting in your yard since February and now months have passed, and not one wild bird has landed on it much less been seen coming in and out of it. What could be wrong?

It may be that you don’t have the right habitat to attract the bird that would love the size and shape of your nesting box, or it may even be as simple as the height you’ve mounted it.

You have a lot of options but I’d always suggest starting with a good field guide or backyard birder’s resource. This will tell you the precise bird your box will suit, the precise bird house you need to attract the birds you’re after, as well as proper placement of the nesting box. You can also learn ways to make your yard more suitable to birds. This really can be as easy as adding a bird bath or planting fruit trees or berry shrubs in your yard.

Of course the easiest is to first identify the birds that are already pleased with your yard and then buy the appropriate nest box.

Should you hang it from a tree limb, nail it to a fence, or mount it on a pole or a tree trunk?

There’s a wide range between how high and low your preferred bird will want their nesting box.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

• bird houses mounted on metal poles are less vulnerable to predators than houses nailed to tree trunks or hung from tree limbs,
• use no more than four small nest boxes for any one species or one large box per acre
• put about 100 yards between bluebird boxes and 75 yards between swallow boxes (if you have both species, “pair” the houses with one bluebird box 25 feet from a swallow box. Put the “pair” 100 yards away.)
• don’t put bird houses near bird feeders
• don’t put more than one box in a tree, unless the tree is extremely large or the boxes are for different species
• if you have very hot summers, face the entrance holes of your boxes north or east to avoid overheating the box.

Filed in: Wild Birds

Search by: wild bird, backyard birder, bird houses

John Deere Absolute Squirrel Proof Wild Bird Feeder

Order the John Deere feeder here. or check ebay for the best prices on John Deere gifts right now.

For more squirrel proof feeders scroll down (or type ’squirrel’ into the search box above left). Other signature feeders in this post are not considered squirrel proof, they have been selected for their unique appearance only.

Terra Cotta Fly Thru Wild Bird Feeder (above left) Click here for recent reviews or to order.

Metal & Ceramic Fly Through Wild Bird Feeder (above right) Direct link to the Metal and Ceramic feeder.

Fun Style! Olde Town Cafe Wild Bird Feeder

Learn more about the Olde Town Cafe Feeder here.

Garden Ballet Hummingbird Mobile. Graceful bends of sculpted metal combined with glass nectar containers create a stunning, hanging, garden sculpture that is both functional and beautiful. Tempered glass nectar containers resist scratches and fading even in the hottest sun rays. This unit holds nearly 30 ounces of sweet nectar that you can easily prepare yourself using just sugar and water (no dyes needed – which can actually harm your hummingbird visitors). Buy this hummingbird feeder online!

Filed in: Wild Bird Feeders

Search by: Squirrel Proof, Wild Bird Feeder

A Backyard Birder wrote in and said: “Sturdy, Easy to Use & Fun to Watch. This feeder holds a lot of seed, which is great because the birds love to eat from this feeder. And my cat & I love to watch them. My cat will sit with her face right up against the window and the birds have no idea that she is there. The feeder is also easy to fill, just open your window and fill right from inside your home. I have many feeders, and this is by far my favorite. Order this model here.

The other window feeder model featured (above right) is the Easyview Windowsill Wild Bird Feeder.

One bird watching customer said: Improved viewing! “We’ve had this style of bird feeder for over 3 years. This new one provides even clearer view and protective cover that keeps food dry. It also has a screen under food so that it dries out and chaff blows away. Much cleaner.” Order the Easyview here.

Filed in: Wild Bird Feeders

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