Ideas For Your Backyard

Those who love the bluebird have begun a massive effort to save it through the erection of thousands of nesting boxes appropriate for this species and predator- and competitor-proof. And the bluebird is beginning to reappear in areas where these bluebird houses are established.

Providing bluebird houses has long been a favorite pastime in North America.  Bluebirds are loved for their beautiful blue coloring, as well as, their gentle disposition and pleasing voice.  The bluebird is the symbol of love and happiness in many of our songs.

Once a common bird, the bluebird was numerous even in urban residential areas, but it has seen a decline in numbers, with the Eastern Bluebird losing up to 90 percent of its population. A number of factors, such as insecticides, the destruction of their habitats, predators, and competition from other birds have contributed to this decline. The destruction of some of their food supply, such as the wild holly berries used in Christmas decorations, has also been a factor.

We can assist in the return of this lovely bird by providing suitable habitats, winter shelter, and food supplies. Plants that bear berries throughout the winter (bittersweet, hackberry, dogwood, American holly, privet, bayberry, sumac, and others) will provide food for not only bluebirds but many other species.  Winter roost boxes provide shelter in the coldest season for many birds. In areas where bluebirds find sufficient food, they may stay all year, but a roost box will allow them warmth on cold nights.  And specially designed bluebird houses, with predator guards on the entrance to keep out squirrels, raccoons, and competing birds, will give the bluebird a safe place to live and rear its young. Nests of sparrows and other competitors must be cleaned out of the bluebird house on a regular basis. 

I love to watch birds, but I’ not a bird watcher, if you know what I mean.  This year I have been terribly confused and I am hoping that someone out there can help me.  We all know that the birds begin their migration in the fall, right?   As in years passed I watched the birds migrating to the south with the onset of the cooler temperatures.  Then in the coldest part of our winter (early this year, in December) flock after flock of geese/ducks started flying in from the south heading north.  Now with the promise of spring around the corner I’m watching flock after flock heading south.  What gives with this?  Can anyone help clear this up for me?  Does this happen every year and I just noticed it?

The little bird that speaks his name and does acrobatic stunts on tree branches delights all bird watchers.  This plump little fellow with the black cap is friendly, and chances are he’s been at your feeder in the winter.

Chickadees look for tree holes, either natural or made by woodpeckers, for their nests.  But if a tree is sufficiently soft or rotten, they may make their own holes.  A dead birch tree, which is rotten in the center, is an ideal place for a chickadee nest. 

Four species of chickadee may be found in nesting boxes.  The Black-capped Chickadee or Poecile atricapilla lives in all northern and most middle states as well as in most of Canada.  Its black cap and bib, and white cheeks identify it, as does its chick-a-dee-dee-dee call.  The Carolina Chickadee  orPoecile carolinensis, which looks almost the same, lives in the southeast quarter of the US and has a slightly higher, faster version of the call.

The Mountain Chickadee or Poecile gambeli has a white eyebrow through its black cap and lives in and west of the Rocky Mountains, where he calls chick-adee-adee-adee.  The Chestnut-backed Chickadee has a chestnut-brown back and a brown cap and lives in the northwest and along the California coast.  His call is more of a tseek-a-dee-dee.

The Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees like mixed forests, open woodlands and suburban areas, while their western cousins prefer coniferous forests.

Chickadee belong to the titmouse family.  They are largely an insect eaters, but in winter they may depend greatly on seeds and berries.  They are adept at foraging for insect eggs and larvae from twigs and bark, and this accounts for their active hopping and climbing around on trees to spot their food from all angles!  Their favorite foods at feeders are sunflower seeds, peanut kernels, other nutmeats, peanut butter, and suet. 

In the non-breeding season chickadees tend to flock together, and sometimes the flock may even include titmice, kinglets, nuthatches, and other birds.  During breeding season, the males will drive others out of their territories, so you may have only one pair of chickadees in your yard, where you may have had a flock all winter.

From the beginning of courtship through the period of egg incubation, the male chickadee feeds the female.  They typically raise one or two broods a year of 6 to 8 young and are year-round residents.

Since chickadees’ natural means of nesting is to excavate a hole in a rotting tree, you may make your nest box more attractive to them by putting a little sawdust or wood chips inside it for them. They will not use it for nesting, but since they usually work in pairs to carry a little sawdust away from the hole they are making in a tree, they will perceive that this hole in a tree is appropriate for them, and they will carry the sawdust away before nesting there.

Chickadees move to denser woods for breeding and nesting, but the rest of the year they like open areas and forest edges.

When building or buying a birdhouse for use outside by bluebirds or any other wild bird species you should follow the following guidelines.

*  NO PERCH
Perches can invite species such as House Sparrows that will take over the nest from hole nesting birds.  If you look at the holes in trees which birds use for their houses they do not have perches, so don’t put them on man made bird houses.

* Two Inch Over Hang
With a good overhang above the entrance it will provide the interior of the bird house with protection from driving rain and prevent cats, squirrels from reaching inside the house.  A slate guard (as shown in the pictures) is also a good idea to keep predators out.

* Wood is the best material for birdhouses
Eastern Pine is a great wood for birdhouses.  Never use pressure treated wood for your birdhouse because the treatment gives off poisonous vapors which will endanger your birds.  Use paint or stains on the outside of your birdhouses and especially the back.  Don’t use paint or stain inside.

* Birdhouse entrance
Hole size and shape can determine the type of bird that can enter your bird house.  Bird house entrances for bluebird should be 1-1/2 inch in size.

Flying around all day is hard work; why not treat your feathered friends to a stylish stopover’ This roomy roadhouse country decorative birdhouse offers plenty of perches for tiny tired travelers to get a good night’s rest.

Made of wood 9 7/8″ x 10″ high.

Hello again;

  Don here and today I want to give you some more ideas on themed birdhouses.  Continuing on the a water theme, how about Fishing & Boating Birdhouses. The last time we showed you 2 lighthouse birdhouses, and today we will show a bait shop and fishing cabin birdhouse.

These decorative wooden birdhouses offer a unique style to your landscape decor’ and also to your home decor’.  If you now a fisherman, what a great item for him to put on his shelf.

Bring a bit of breezy bayside fun to your yard with this cute-as-a-button birdhouse!

Summery colors and nautical theme make this a bright and cheerful accent. Trimmed with a host of lifelike lifeguard accessories, this quaint little shack snugly shelters any flock of beachgoing birdies.

Has a rope at the top for hanging and it deminsions are 9 1/2 in x 6 3/4 in x 10 1/2 in high.

This birdhouse is suitable for most common backyard birds including bluebirds, titmice, swallows, nuthatches, chickadees and wrens.

The 1-1/2 inch hole is protected by a slate predator guard to ward off pesky squirrels.

This house has a 4×4 floor.

These Wild Birdhouses are manufactured for every species of cavity-nesting bird in North America. Designed for each species by experts, These bird houses provide the correct dimensions, materials, ventilation and drainage. Wild bird houses are handcrafted in Maine from eastern white pine. Each item is constructed to last and includes a brochure that describes the species, as well as the placement and maintenance of the birdhouse.

This rustic bait shop could be found from the Florida Keys to New Hampshire

Solid wood construction and fishing-themed adornments give this Bait Shop decorative fishing birdhouse its rustic style and appeal. 

       *  8 in. x 6 in. x 10 1/4 in. high         

WOODEN DECORATIVE BIRDHOUSE

Our Coveside Birdhouses manufactures a bird house for every species of cavity-nesting bird in North America. Designed for each species by experts, Our Coveside bird houses provide the correct dimensions, materials, ventilation and drainage. These Coveside bird houses are handcrafted in Maine from eastern white pine. Each item is constructed to last and includes a brochure that describes the species, as well as the placement and maintenance of the birdhouse.