Below is a checklist of the ten most important features of a good working birdhouse. Otherwise, it will probably remain vacant. Before you put a house out for wild birds, be sure it has these ten features. 1. Entrance Hole Size*: Most of our common hole-nesting birds can use an entrance hole 1 ¼ to 1 ½ inches in diameter. 1a. One Hole per house. Only purple martins nest in colonies, and even two or three holes won’t work for them. 2. Floor Dimensions*: The inside floor dimensions of the box are important and should be at least 4 x 4 inches or 5 x 5 inches so that there is room for the young to develop. 3. Box Height*: The distance from the floor of the box to the bottom of the entrance hole should be at least 6 inches. 4. Perches: There should be no perch on a bluebird house. For others, it is optional, and primarily for aesthetics. 5. Be Able to Open: You must be able to open the box. This helps in two ways: to monitor the progress and health of the young; and to clean out the box. 6. Ventilation: There must be holes or slits along the top of the box sides to let out hot air when the sun beats down on the box in summer. 7. Drainage Holes: The bottom of the box needs to have holes or cut-off corners to allow any water to drain out of the box. 8. A Way to Attach the Box: Check to see if there is some way that you can attach the box to a pole, platform or limb. 9. Wooden Construction: Be sure that the material is wood or a similar material that will insulate the birds from cold and heat. Metal or plastic roofs can cook the eggs. 10. Roof Overhang: The roof should overhang the entrance hole by ½ to 2 inches. This both shades the entrance hole and keeps the rain out. * Some species need specific dimensions but most can be accommodated by one of five bird house sizes. Examples given are for smaller birds.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 00:21:19 +0000
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