That Bird Wants a House!
One of the upsides to a down economy is that families are looking for activities that don’t cost a lot and that family members of all ages can participate in. Building bird houses is a wonderful rainy day weekend project that will bring joy to the family in many ways. Many of our fine feathered friends have lost their natural habitats for one reason or another. These feathered friends are dependent on man-made bird houses in order to survive because so much of their natural habitat has been removed.
A little research will let you know the sizes and other details you will need to know in order to build different sized bird houses for different species of birds. There are many kits available that include all the materials needed to build certain types of bird houses. Using bird house kits is the simplest way to get this project rolling. A kit makes it possible for you to spend more time helping younger members of the family with their part of the project rather than cutting the wood that will be needed for construction.
Most species of birds do not like nesting close to others of their own species. They are quite territorial. The exception to this rule is the Purple Martin. Purple Martins do like apartment living arrangements and feel safer with others of their own species to help fight off predators. So if your kit is a multi-nesting box, this is one you will want to use to attract Purple Martins. Bluebirds, robins and wrens all like the single nest box and will be very happy campers if each bird house is a little different in color and style.
If you are trying to attract the smaller species of birds, you will want to install squirrel guards on the pole of the bird houses. This will prevent squirrels from helping themselves to whatever the birds take to their nest. Each species of bird likes a different type of bird seed, though the generic bird seed sold commercially is usually a mixture that will attract song birds.
Once the kits are built and mounted in secure places, the birds will come by to check out the new accommodations. If there are readily available nesting materials, food and water sources and plenty of protection from predators, your back yard will soon be host to a choir singing straight from the heart, the birds who decided your accommodations suit them just fine.
By building several different sized bird houses, several species of birds will take a look to see if this is the ideal spot to raise their family. As long as you have the room to place the bird houses at least forty to sixty feet apart, you will see an amazing array of fine feathered friends that have come to roost in your yard.
Involving your family in the endeavor of building bird houses teaches many skill sets. The birds are benefited by the helping hand from man. Children learn to respect the creatures of nature when they have a helping hand in creating homes and nesting sites to perpetuate the species.
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“One of the upsides to a down economy is that families are looking for activities that don’t cost a lot and that family members of all ages can participate in.”
Spot on with your assessment. Regardless of the state of the economy, this is a great family activity.
Bird houses and feeders, along with two bird baths, are how my husband and I draw the various species of bird in our regoin to our backyard. We started with a bird bath and a feeder, then we began placing more feeders and some bird houses in our backyard. Added another bird bath last spring to the yard because of all the birds visiting and living in our yard. They’re so fun to watch and they add great color to the yard, they’re like living decor.