Birdhouses
Tips for building and installing a birdhouse
Research a suitable design for the birds that live in your area and habitat type. Design factors such as the size of the entry hole play an essential role in the safety and suitability of your birdhouse. Check out the "Right Bird, Right House" tool from NestWatch to identify birds that may nest in your area, provide a downloadable plan for a nest box, and even indicate the level of building difficulty.
If you wish to make a decorative birdhouse, consider the materials you are using. Avoid decorative materials that would be potentially harmful to birds or other wildlife if ingested. Use wooden walls of at least ¾ inch thickness to ensure the interior is insulated against cold or hot weather (avoid metal). Choose natural, muted colors rather than flashy, bright ones so as not to attract predators’ attention.
Untreated, unpainted wood is preferable. (See this article from NestWatch for more information on the pros and cons of paint on nest boxes.)
Use galvanized screws rather than nails or staples for a better seal along walls and for ease of deconstructing for maintenance.
Document what you find in your birdhouses each year! If you notice that one or more birdhouses are empty after the nesting season, consider moving the birdhouse to a more desirable location.
Place your birdhouses long before the breeding season begins. For North Carolina, February is the latest recommended time for placing birdhouses.
Be sure to place your birdhouse out of reach of predators. The best way to protect against unwanted intruders is to mount the birdhouse on a metal pole or PVC pipe.
Additional Resources
Below are resources to help answer questions about birdhouse construction and the nesting habits of birds: