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Why did you put up a bird house in your yard? Although birdhouses can be a terrific exterior decor accessory, most people don’t put them up just for appearances. If you have erected one in your yard then it is most likely because you want to bring birds to your yard. Bird watching is a pleasurable activity that brings moments of peace, joy and beauty throughout the day. Glancing out the window and seeing a happy bird hovering outside your window inspires a momentary appreciation of the simple things in life. These moments add up day after day to truly enhance the quality of your life. So how do you get birds to want to spend time in the little house that you’ve made for them? You will start with making sure that you have the right food and water available for the birds in your area. You want to choose native plants because these will be what birds are naturally drawn to eat. Do some research into the birds that are native to your area and what they eat in the wild. You can put this food in the bird house or you can plant it around the same area. The same is true of water; you can add a small bird bath to the house or you can put one near the area where you want the birds to land. Although the birds will come to the area because they want food and water, it is the shelter that you provide to them that will be most important if you really want to attract a lot of birds. Birds want to be kept safe from both predators and inclement weather. They won’t land for long in a shelter that doesn’t provide them with that sense of safety. Create that for them and the birds will flock to your home. Consider whether you want to erect a single house or multiple houses for the birds. If you have a diverse array of different types of birds in the area then you may want to consider putting up multiple houses so that many birds can land and still feel at home. You may also want to consider choosing larger houses with lots of ledges so that the birds can enjoy both the inside and the outside of the home. However, even larger houses should have fairly small openings. You want to make sure that birds can get in but other animals, such as squirrels, cannot. It is also important to think about the landscaping that you put up around the home you create for the birds. Natural landscaping that also provides additional safety and shelter from the wind will protect the area even more. Shy birds can hang out in the bushes and trees for a little bit as they get used to the area. Eventually they may migrate over to the bird house. Either way, you’ll have more birds coming to your yard, giving you the pleasure of seeing them each day. From a practical point of view, it is important to choose a bird house that is sturdy. You don’t want to have to frequently disturb the birdhouse to repair it because this will deter birds from returning. You want to have a house that is solidly built. It should be on a stand or hanger that is designed to last for a long period of time. The back should be easily removable so that you can get in there and clean the house without taking a lot of time and trouble. The exterior of the house should be weatherproofed in order to last over time. Do these things and you’ll have a yard full of birds to watch and enjoy. Sandy Winslow is an author on lots of subjects, including outdoor landscaping. When you are planning your backyard design, be sure to include a bird house for all your feathered friends.
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