Bird Houses And The Birds That Inhabit Them

Birdhouses have been accenting our yards since...well, I'm not sure. But I'm pretty sure it's longer than anyone reading this has been alive. Not only are they pretty to look at, but they attract an assortment of birds that are looking for homes to raise a family. And, if you are fortunate enough to be the owner of the house they choose, you'll get to enjoy some of the greatest gifts that nature has to offer: the beautiful assortment of colors they come in, the playfulness of mating season, and most of all, the seemingly countless tunes of songbirds. And, if you're up to it, a well placed birdcam in the house will give you an up-close look at the eggs as they hatch.

But, just like birds, birdhouses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and depending on the species of bird you want to attract to your houses, you'll need to know which type of house each species prefer, and most important, which type may not prefer a house at all, because compared to the many number of species that are out there, only a handful will nest in a house. So, first you must identify the species in your area then find out which of these are likely to nest in the houses you provide. Once you've done this, all that's left is to go house hunting. I'm pretty sure it won't be hard to find birdhouses in your local area. And if you can't find what your looking for, there is always the internet. There you can find any type of birdhouse you're looking for. Even if what you're looking for is somewhat out of the ordinary. As I said before, birdhouses come in different shapes and sizes--some of them are extraordinary in size. Don't believe me? Take a look at the video above.

Now, if it is something simple that you want, and you feel like taking on a project, whether it's solo or with your children, you can try building your own birdhouse. You can come up with your own design, or you can find some birdhouse plans and work with those. But, if you'r planning on designing it yourself, there are a few things you need to consider.

1. What type of bird you want to attract and whether or not they have predators and what kind. This will ensure the birds' safety when considering the style.

2. The size of the bird you want to attract. This will determine the size of the house, which is crucial to attracting them. One size does not fit all.

3. Avoid using paints that are toxic.

4. Provide proper drainage and ventilation.

Whichever way you decide to go, just remember to do your research first. That way you and your bird friends won't be disappointed with the results.

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