Bird Watcher Supply Shop
Bird House Box - Bluebird, Purple Martin, Decorative & Wooden
Bird houses - decorative, martin, hummingbird, wood and wooden painted designs from fancy to rustic.
Bird Houses & Boxes
Few North American birds actually nest in cavities, but still more than 80 species will make use of a nesting box/house. Since natural cavities where birds make their homes are becoming increasingly difficult for birds to find due to land clearing and competition from imported species, you will help songbirds out by supplying them with houses.
Bird house can be a cavity, or classic bird box, but some types prefer nesting shelves. A nesting shelf is just that, a simple shelf or platform for birds to build a nest on which you can make yourself or purchase.
When building or buying a birdhouse, consider the following factors:
- WOOD: Whatever your plans, always use untreated wood to make a birdhouse. Chemicals used to treat some wood can be very toxic if a bird pecks at it. Fumes may also build up inside the house in the heat of summer when birds are nesting.
- Make sure the material used to make your birdhouse is thick. A thicker wood or other material will provide added insulation against heat or cold.
- PAINT: Never paint the interior of a birdhouse.
- Try not to paint the exterior of a bird house. It is more natural for the bird and they are more likely to use the house.
- If you do use paint on the outside of the house, or want to buy a house that is painted, make sure that the color blends in with the area where you intend to place the box. If a bird house stands out to you, it will also stand out to potential predators. Natural colors work best and are more attractive to birds. While a painted birdhouse may be very pretty to you, it may not appeal to the birds.
- DRAINAGE: Make sure that the birdhouse has drainage slots or holes and that the roof line extends over the sides of the house. Water can quickly build up in a bird house during a storm, so insure that the water can drain out and nestling are safe. A longer roof line will help keep out rain water in the first place.
- VENTILATION: Ventilation near the roof of the bird house is important and be sure this is in the design. Heat can build up inside a bird box, but vent holes near the roof line will allow heat to escape.
- ENTRANCE: the proper size entrance hole and box dimensions targeted to the type of bird you want to attract. If you want to attract smaller songbirds, you will need to provide smaller entrance holes. If the holes are too large your boxes may be taken over by larger birds.
- PERCHES: Perches on a bird house are not needed by nesting birds, so leave them off the plans. Do not use them as they only allow predators potential access.
- MONITOR: There should be an easy way to monitor and clean out the house. Usually the front or side will open on a birdhouse you buy. This is important in order to have access to the interior of the house, either to remove the nests of undesirable birds such as house sparrows nesting in bluebird boxes or to clan out insects. During the winter months your bird houses will need to be cleaned, so you will need to have some way to get inside of it.
- PLACEMENT: Plan your placement. Place your bird house in a safe area. Do not place the birdhouses on tree trunks where squirrels, snakes and other predators can get into it easily. Pole mounted bird boxes with baffles will help keep predators away from eggs and nestling.
Birds of Prey Houses - Bird houses designed in the correct heights and widths for owls, American kestrels and other birds of prey. Attract larger species of cavity dwelling birds of prey to a habitat and practice natural pest control!
Beautiful Birding Bluebird Houses - Bird houses made especially for bluebirds. Providing nesting boxes is one of the surest ways to attract bluebirds to your garden. While they may not be interested in seed offered at feeders, they need cavity nesting sites.
Decorative Indoor & Outdoor Wood Bird Houses - Decorative indoor or outdoor wooden bird houses. Copper roof mansions, painted Victorian and rustic designs. Use outdoors for garden decor or indoors. Decorative pedestal collection included.
Songbird Houses & Roosting Boxes - Providing nesting sites for wild birds is an important part of creating a sanctuary for wild birds. Houses are designed for songbirds and perching birds - chickadees, wrens, titmice, nuthatches and the smaller backyard bird species.
Backyard Bird Nesting Materials - In addition to adding houses to a habitat, you can also help feathered friends to gather the nesting materials they use to build their homes. By providing safe nesting materials you encourage wild birds to raise their young in your yard.
Purple Martin Houses - Purple martins are a highly desirable bird to attract to your backyard habitat. They are beautiful and watching their flight patterns enjoyable past time. Purple martins are also a great help with natural insect control in your environment as they consume bugs.
Woodpecker Houses - As trees are cleared from landscapes, woodpeckers have lost their habitat. Species such as red headed, downy, red bellied, hairy, pileated and flickers will make use of a man made nesting box. Adding a woodpecker house woodpeckers survive.