Are bird houses GOOD for birds

Right now I can't think of any genuine reason why you shouldn't setup a bird house, as its only going to help bring more beautiful birds into the world.

Of course bird houses are a good idea, they are going to offer an instant home for any potential nesting birds, or help them survive colder months to roost in - so a bird house can be used twice a year. Cheap, tough, insulated bird houses have little trouble - so can see fledglings exit the box come June or July.

Bird houses take up a little space in a quiet spot in the yard, so to set one up is going to need little intervention by you - as oppose to bird feeders needing your full attention.

It can only be a good thing then to site a bird house in your backyard as it serves to be an artificial nest, but does actually what its suppose to do.

Bird houses for wild birds that use them are all quite unique, so you'd need to setup a box to attract certain bird species to settle in it.

It can depend on how well the bird house is made, as backyard birds can be picky when it comes to setting up house.

Its never too late to put up a bird house either as it can be used twice yearly; once for the nesting season - then once again later in the year to roost.

Bird houses are good for keeping birds warm, but so too are they good for staying cool, providing there's ventilation holes on the base.

Never assist predators with a bird house that uses a perch, and make sure the height of the bird house is mounted high off the ground.

Benefits to setting up a bird house will certainly outdo any possible negatives.

Extremely good for wild birds

Bird houses are extremely good for the backyard birds because in many cases, they can become reliant on us to construct the bird house for them.

Little downsides to this with mostly positives of setting up a bird house.

Bird houses are cheap to buy, they are easy to fix to a wall, tree or post - and can be left to allow nature to take its course - with hopefully one of many birds showing interest to use it in due course.

Safe, secure wooden bird houses you can buy are made to attract all bird species, so you would need to know the species you really want to encourage.

But as a word of caution, you must know the kinds of birds who frequent your backyard the most to give you any sort of chance of one nesting. It wouldn't be possible for example to tempt a Downy Woodpecker to nest - when you've never really seen any kind of Woodpecker in your yard.

Safer than wild bird nests

Of course with a bird house made in solid, thick insulated timber, nowhere in nature could a bird build such a tough, reliable nest.

Make no mistake then, many wild birds who use bird houses would prefer to make their own in nature, but so to use a bird house - as safety is a major benefit.

Bird houses are good idea then to setup in our backyards as a way to keep birds safe, as oppose to where they would be up in trees.

But that does depend on you because where you place a bird house its going to have its say.

On top of that, it'll need to be located a certain height off the ground with a priority of facing the bird house in a north, north/east direction.

Minimal disadvantages

I can't seem to think of any serious disadvantages of setting up a bird house in your backyard right now, as its all positives in my mind.

Sure, to buy a bird house or build your own, you'd need to make sure its made to attract certain species, but it must be built so well its insulated with plenty of ventilation of course.

Mounting a bird house to a wall or post is unlikely to see an accidental collapse, so you should be safe there.

Where else you can go wrong is in positioning a bird house in such a way, its basically made for easy pickings for predators. Prioritize the bird house location then by taking onboard my recommendations of where to site it in your yard.

Benefits certainly outdo any disadvantage of having a bird house in your yard, as any concerns can be overcome with a few adjustments.

Ready made housing

What can be better than a ready made home, ready to be moved in for the nesting season, or temporarily used to roost in the winter months.

Birds take to bird houses because its everything they need without putting in the effort.

It can take up to two weeks for wild birds to make a natural nest in the wild, so imagine their delight to find an empty box ready for new occupants.

Birds of all species could make use of cracks and crevices in nature, but to use a purpose-built bird box is surely going to be more appealing. And that's important as birds can be fussy when it comes to a new home.

Know that the bird house you intend to use is going to be used for a couple of months, so make sure the location can continue to be quiet and an isolated spot during this period.

Keep birds warm in winter

I can say that what is the most important thing for a bird house after nesting season is it can be used for roosting.

Now, don't get me wrong as its not always going to be used, but its not uncommon to see birds use a bird house in the colder months, to simply stay warm in harsh weather.

And so here is the reason to maintain a bird house to keep up and running every day of the year, as wild birds will find a new purpose for it.

Birds can suffer over the wet, blistering cold months of winter, so need to find a place to stay warm.

You can then offer them this vital home as they could use it at once, or even many birds can roost in the box at any given time.

Its essential then to always clean out your bird house to make way for roosting birds later on in the year.

No overheating in summer

What really makes a good bird house is one that can offer not only the insulation that is needed to survive cold months, but a bird house that cannot overheat.

Safe, reliable made in wood bird houses are certainly going to offer both.

Birds don't really give out enough body heat to warm up a bird house more than it is, so it can only be caused by the sun beaming down on it.

Providing you have the much needed ventilation holes on the base of the bird house, cooler air can pass through - as to keep the occupants safe from overheating.

Never setup a bird house that is facing south or south/east - which is certainly going to help a load to stop it overheating.

But its not always the sun that can heat up a wooden bird box, but more so the very hot, humid days that effect us all.

Be sure to use a traditional wooden bird house, or if you like a real log bird box - while avoiding a nest box made in ceramic.

Impenetrable to predators

Bird houses are a good idea for keeping wild birds safe from animals that wish to do harm, to the adult birds or their young.

Predatory birds are a problem for nesting birds, so to setup a bird house in our yard, we can keep an eye on proceedings - while making sure to rid any predators that approach the bird house any time.

One negative is your own or the neighbors cat is now within the bird house range, so do take extra care to make sure cats can never come into contact with the bird house at all - as it risks parenting birds abandoning their nest.

If you are in a squirrel problem area, that certainly isn't good. But remember, bird nests in nature have eggs stolen all the time - but to build a bird house in your backyard, once again you can scare off any intruders.

Natural birds' nests in the wild are open to predators or thieves, but so to is the unpredictable weather, in which a bird house is weatherproof.

What else is important when utilizing a wooden bird house in your yard - which wouldn't at all be possible in nature - is to avoid a colorful bird house, as its sure to attract unwanted visitors more than an untreated wooden bird house would.

Conclusion

Bird houses are always going to be a good idea because they are needed now more than ever, as many North American birds are in decline.

To setup a bird house in your yard, you'd be responsible for helping to preserve these precise creatures while helping to keep their numbers up.

Bird houses, if setup in the best possible way, is going to be a place to nest for all bird species who use them.

But its certainly up to you to make sure its located in the recommend area.

Bird's nests made in nature are a work of art, but they are also prone to damage by weather. Bird houses are tough as can be, but so to are they rain and snow proof - with no risk of the occupants suffering.

But so to is a wooden bird house a place to stay warm in cold winter months, while also staying cool, if well ventilated - in the summer months.

Bird houses are ready to go from the off, so do expect wild birds to nest ASAP in the nesting season - or just maybe roost in colder months.

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