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| The Backyard Corner |
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| Attract Birds with Nesting Sites |
| Nesting sites can either be natural (as in the trees, shrubs, vines, etc., that you have in your yard already) or they can be man-made (as in nest boxes or birdhouses). Do you have any dead trees that won’t cause any danger if they fall? Leave them where they are to attract Woodpeckers and other cavity dwelling birds that might use them for nesting. If you live in an older neighborhood where the trees & shrubs are mature, then you probably already have many birds nesting in your yard. If you live in a newer neighborhood that has few trees, or small ones, and you want to provide nesting sites, nest boxes could be your answer. Keep in mind though that no matter where you live, or what kind of natural nesting sites you have or don’t have available in your yard, nest boxes are a great supplemental nesting source for the many cavity dwelling birds we have on Long Island. There are many shapes and sizes of nest boxes available in the stores; there are also plans on how to build your own nest boxes available on the Internet, sometimes for free. One thing to remember with a nest box, is that birds don’t really care how fancy or pretty it is, even though sometimes that’s what we prefer . Birds require a nest box that’s watertight, has some top vents for the hot weather, but also one that keeps them warm when it’s cold. There should also be drain holes on the bottom, and some kind of removable door so you can clean inside when needed. The interior should be free of paint or stain (you can paint or stain the outside if you want). The entrance hole size of a birdhouse is also important to particular species. A Chickadee requires an entrance hole of approximately 1 1/8”, whereas a Tufted Titmouse requires approximately 1 1/4”. There are also larger boxes available with bigger entrance holes if you want to attract species such as Flickers or Wood Ducks. Here’s a good site on nesting boxes, and the size requirements. http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/bhbasics/refrchart.html One other thing you might want to invest in or make, is a nesting “shelf". A nesting shelf is a simple open structure usually made out of wood, and has a back to hang it with, a bottom, and some sides to keep the nest from falling out. There are many species of birds that don't nest in cavities, such as Robins, Mourning Doves and Finches. Some nest in the crook of a branch on a tree, or some take advantage of leaf litter and nest on the ground. Still others nest in tangles or shrubs. A nesting shelf won't attract all of the non-cavity birds, but it might just provide the "right spot" for some bird looking for a place to bring up it's young. |