Bird house ... used by house wrens. © Gordon Scaggs, 2002, all rights reserved.

Many species of birds require a cavity in which they build nests, lay eggs and raise their young. Some species, like woodpeckers, can excavate their own nesting cavities in the trunks of decaying trees. Others will take advantage of abandoned woodpecker holes or natural cavities created by broken branches. Some bird species require the tall meadow and prairie vegetation to weave and hide their nests. Human impact on the landscape has resulted in the removal of many dead and dying trees (called snags) and the mowing over of natural grassland areas.

Installing nesting boxes for birds is an easy way to help create habitat in your yard. Here are some helpful tips from the naturalists at NWF to guide you through the process of buying or building your nesting box, getting it installed and maintaining it properly:

• Install your birdhouse BEFORE the nesting season begins - mid to late winter (late February is best for most areas).

• Boxes built of untreated wood are best.

• Your box should NOT have a perch - perches are unnecessary and allow predators access to eggs and nestlings.

• Hang your box from a pole with a predator guard - hanging boxes in trees allows predators easier access and can harm the tree.

• The box should have a drainage hole in the bottom, ventilation holes toward the top (but not in the roof, or water will leak in) and a hinged side to allow easy access for cleaning and monitoring.

• Don't use insecticides in our yard - birds rely on insects to feed their young (and the chemicals are harmful to the birds themselves).

• Keep your cats indoors - domestic cats kill millions of birds every year.
  You can score the inside walls of the box which will assist baby birds in reaching the exit hole when they are ready to leave the nest.

• Try to identify invasive exotic birds like European starlings and English sparrows, which out-compete and kill native birds, and remove their nests from your nesting box if you discover them.

• Plans for building a nesting box can be found in the Backyard Habitat Planning Guide, available from NWF for $14.95 by calling 585-461-3092.

• Check out your local Home Depot store for the National Wildlife Federation chickadee nesting box.

Learn more about making your landscape wildlife-friendly by creating a Backyard Wildlife Habitat and having it certified by the National Wildlife Federation [www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat.]

The nation’s largest member-supported conservation education and advocacy group, the National Wildlife Federation unites people from all walks of life to protect nature, wildlife and the world we all share.