I’m onto my second reading of Pete Dunne on Bird Watching. Which, by the way, is a great book for both the backyard bird watcher and for those who want to know more about birdwatching in general.
The chapter I’m on now is discussing nesting box success (dimensions, placement and predator prevention), but the fact that escaped me on the first read, and that shocked me the most is this:
“Everyone engaging their lives with the lives of birds should understand that 90 percent of the birds born in any given year fail to see the next. Nest failure is the first major cut on the way to maintaining the population at a healthy level that does not outstrip resources.”
You see 90% of the birds born this year won’t make it to the next year and nest failure is the biggest reason for the mortality rate.
90%!
Nest failure takes the most, with these secondary causes: natural predators, starvation, hypothermia and insect infestation (these ‘killers’ can be kept at bay with your intervention as well - all with correctly placed and maintained bird houses).
Those numbers are shocking, but I don’t doubt Pete Dunne for a moment. As Vice-President of the New Jersey Audobon Socieity and the director of the Cape May Bird Observatory, I’m sure he has his numbers right.
With all the adversity our wild birds have to cope with in North America I think the more we can help our wild birds, the better.
Providing, maintaining and protecting nesting boxes is one huge step in the right direction and it serves us as well. More birds in our backyards and gardens means less bugs and insects. It’s fun and rewarding to know that we helped a few birds get their start - many of which (if all goes well) will return to our property the following year.
Now is the time, in fact it may even be a little late for the first clutch of some species.
- With the return of spring and warmer weather most wild birds have already scouted out their nesting selection, if you’ve got boxes get them cleaned or re-hung.
- If you don’t have nesting boxes you can buy some really cheap (here’s a $10 off coupon - use promo code: SW-8937 in the category Bird Houses).
Even if the birds don’t arrive on your doorstep for a few weeks you are still helping. Many birds will have two or more clutches per season and may be looking for a more suitable spot than they had on round one.
I thank you all, who happen upon these pages, and who make a concerted effort to assist our backyard birds, both at the feeding stations and with their nesting needs.
Veronica
p.s. Here is the Pete Dunne book that I reference above, just for your info. If you don’t have this, but love birds, you’ll enjoy this book for years to come.
Filed in: Wild Birds
Search by: bird houses, wild birds, nesting boxes
13 Comments Posted
Steven Wilson
April 8th, 2006 at 12:05 am
Thank you for the e-mail reminder to get the nesting boxes ready.I have not done mine yet,and had not really thought much on it till your message.
Thanks
Steven
Jennifer S.
April 8th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
Thank you for the e-mail reminder on making sure we all get our nesting boxes ready. I have my bluebird boxes, gourds, and other nesting boxes up and ready. It’s good to see the info and it’s good to see you getting the message out. Thanks!
- Jennifer
christina
May 18th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
I’ve had a nest box up for about a year now. Just earlier in the Spring i noticed some comings & goings to that nesting box. I even noticed they built there own nest (with hay, straw & swigs) inside the house-box.
… Well within the past month, I have not seen any birds go in and out at all… What could be the problem???… Will they come back??… What could’ve gone wrong??
Please advise, & Thank you for your expertise!~Christina
The Bird Girl
May 18th, 2006 at 4:43 pm
Christina:
It’s my guess that they decided to nest someplace else after all. It does seem a little crazy that they went to all the trouble of building a nest within, only to abandon it, but many factors could have moved that pair on. And, it’s not uncommon in the bird world for them to change their minds about their habitat.
Has anything been (in or outside the home or nearby the nesting box) changed? For instance did a teenager in the home get a new stereo? Raccoons and snakes coming out of dormancy may also have raided the nest.
There are just so many factors…
Is there any chance you are missing their coming and going? Some birds build their nest in advance, then are out all day hunting, drinking, etc. Although if it truly has been a month since they’ve been around it’s pretty unlikely they’re coming back.
If it were my nesting box, I’d peek inside (but not disturb anything), then check back in a week and see if anything has been changed.
If it remains unchanged and unhabitated, clean it out and wait on another pair.
To make your yard and boxes more appealing (so the birds stick around) ensure the nesting boxes are placed out of harm’s way and provide food and water nearby.
Good luck and have fun with your wild birds!
Veronica Bond
http://www.attractwildbirds.com
Laura L
May 30th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
Hi Veronica,
Thank you, and our home is 2.23 acres in a very wooded subdivision east of Jackson, Miss.
We have 4 blue bird houses, but only two have had broods or families this Spring. The other two are empty for some reason.
I love the birds and I try to feed them all. I am very new at “caring” for birds or having feeders and nesting boxes, only been at our new home for two years. I read about the wrens and house sparrows destroying blue birds.
We are going to try moving the houses further from house and yards. I don’t know if I could destroy any bird, but I might try my hand at nets or cages! I read about those.
Thank you for your email. I enjoy something in my life other than work!!
Laura L
Calvin Brown
February 14th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
We have only three bird feeders in our back yard, and we have attracted over twenty-five different species to our feeders. We have enjoyed feeding and watching all of the various types of birds and the different ways that they feed and interact together. This is our first year to put out our feeders and it has been the most fun that my wife and I have ever had, it has been the most relaxing times that we have shared together. I encourage anyone to put out feeders and enjoy lifes greatest rewards that God has given us to really enjoy. My worst day at work can be fixed by coming home to the beauty that abounds us all each and every day, if we stop long enough to enjoy the birds that we feed day in and day out. It will change the way you view life at its fullest.
Thanks,
CWB
Please respond.
Delores
April 15th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Hi,
I have my feeders out and my house wren etc.
all love it. I do have a problem with starlings. They
seem to empty my feeders and scare the other birds
away. I would appreciate any advice you have to keep
the starling’s out of the feeders.
Thanks,
DBR
Please respond.
wendy
May 6th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Thanx for the reminder about the bird houses and such!!!
I do have a rather strange question however.
I have seen a rather unusual bird and was wondering
who to report a rare bird in so. cal.
Wen
Mary J. Spasiano
May 28th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Dear Veronica:
Thank you so much for the email reminder for putting out the bird-nesting boxes. My daughter Amy and I placed bird feeders strategically around her back yard
about ten days ago. What a true joy it’s been to watch the arrival of all different kinds of birds: we have seen
cardinals, wild finches, yellow warblers, chickadees, the traditional sparrows, mourning doves, bluejays, robins,
cedar waxwings, red-winged blackbirds, and the occasional black bird that has a beautiful iridescent blue
head, (I don’t know what it’s called!)
I am secretly planning to hang up some birdhouses/nesting boxes to surprise my daughter Amy
and my 10+ year old grandson Philip this week while my daughter is at work and Philip is in school.
I have been a nature and animal-lover for all my life. I find tremendous peace and serenity in watching our wonderful feathered friends, as well as other animals, wild and domesticated. Our world would be a much lonelier place to live in, without these wonderful creatures that GOD gave us! It’s not asking a lot to place birdhouses and/or nesting boxes for our birds to
stay safe and warm and to raise their baby chicks in, out of harms’ way.
Thank you for having such a wonderful website for all of us bird-lovers to send our comments, questions, and/or reviews to.
Happy Bird-Watching!
Mary S.
Please reply. Thanks.
Merl Elton
June 10th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Also, if you want to attract nesting birds you will need to provide the appropriate bird houses for the species you want to attract; plus the right type of trees, shrubs, food; and a daily supply of fresh clean water. We fill coated terra cotta plant potting dishes with water about twice a day with water; especially in nesting and fledging season; and in warm and hot weather. Our neighbors have a bird bath and it is very entertaining to watch the birds bathing.
Also, to discourage rats from feeders; use only hulled sunflower seeds because the rats eat the shells and seed coats. Also, remove fruit skins and any food from the ground especially at night; and use tighly sealed storage bins and garbage containers.
Report predator patterns to bird sanctuaries.
This year we lost many bluebirds and hummingbirds; due to the Florida fires, West Nile; and to cat, crow, and hawk predation.
Just walking around your local nature preserves at varying times on a regular basis, you will see the patterns of predators and can report them to local bird sancuatuaries. Their jobs should be actively protecting endangered bird populations by entering these patterns into databases; and taking appropirate action based on local situations, and not just based on one size fits all strategies; not just only pushing papers; making nice speeches; and creating pretty websites; these agencies need to be continually reminded to be constantly pro active based on local situations.
As some funds have been cut for wildlife protection agencies, the concerned and educated public needs to help protect threatened and endangered species. And sometimes species like bluebirds and orioles are not considered endangered by authorities due to lack of effective monitoring and appropriate action in local areas. The concerned and educated public can bring their local observations to the attention of wildlife agencies and bird societies to encourage pro action. Their job should be to actively protect birds in addition to collecting money; and we need to keep them appropriately informed.
These agencies need to employ the concerned and interested public on a volunteer basis to get out there on a daily basis studying patterns; recommending effective changes as discouraging and removing predators from bluebird and other songbird nesting sites; planting trees and shrubs song birds need to nest and feed; providing food; and building bird houses for threatened species.
Since funds have been cut it becomes imperative that these wildlife agences be creative so they can do more than less; and this means getting bird lovers to help.
Retirees would be an excellent resource to help save the birds. On their daily walks retirees could observe and report back what they see. Each person would go at a different time of day or evening to get a clearer picture of what is really going on in any affected locality. Unfortunately, bureaucracies have often failed because they have refused to enbrace creativity, effective pro action, change; and ways of becoming efficient without spending lots of money. Once people know that the money they donate is not being used efficiently or wisely; they stop donating. The public can use the internet and other means of creative pro action as powerful tools for making positive changes.
Eve Vogelstein
June 13th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Thank you for the interesting email. It is always wonderful to hear of ways to encourage our birds. I have been enjoying your site and just purchased the bird guide book listed. I have emailed your website to my sister-in-law who is a great fan of birds too. I really like your hummingbird on your webpage. Could you possible email me the flash picture. I would love to have it on my desktop since I am a big hummingbird fan. Thanks and good luck with your wonderful site..
Maxine
August 4th, 2007 at 9:45 am
We live in Upper Western part of South Carolina and just moved to a new house and was trying to get wild birds to stay around the house and our barn. In memory of my mother we planted flowers for her favorite the Hummingbirds but haven’t seen any this year. I love your web site and hope to learn more.
Dotti Richardson
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
We already have a bird feeder hanging from our deck and it’s attracting lots of birds, mostly finches and chickadees. Now I would like to put a bird house in an evergreen tree close by, but my husband thinks that cats and squirrels would be able to get to it. What should I do? Do you have any suggestions as to what type of bird house. And what’s the difference between a bird house and a nesting box? Maybe I should also tell you that I live in Colorado Springs, CO.