A variety of weird and wonderful birds adorn the North American landscape, but out of the 650 different species only a minority can be seen nesting in cavities.
Fruitful forests and natural habitats provide idyllic dwellings for the cavity nester but while once in abundance, such places are now harder to be found.
Birds then, like the purple martin, (one of eighty-five cavity nesting species) must adapt to the ever-changing world around them and rely heavily, sometimes solely, on man-made wild bird house for their continuing existence. While the destruction of natural habitats continues, mankind must play its part in supporting the environment and its inhabitants.
It is a good thing then that after careful consideration and hard work, there is something deeply satisfying about seeing wild birds visit the garden and something that we often take great pains to achieve. It may seem as simple as buying one of the many bird houses that can be found on the market, but choosing the right one is not always as easy as it sounds. A bird house might look the business in the shop but its practicality and functionality in the garden may not be as appealing to the nesting bird as it is to us.
A well thought out and designed nest box is therefore crucial when attracting our feathered friends to the garden. The box, for example, must be placed in the correct position – does the bird like to nest close to the ground or high up out of the way? What colour should the nest box be? How big should it be?
All of these factors should come in to play when going about this task as different birds are suited to different habitats. It is also important to remember that a territorial bird will not tolerate other birds in close range and so the species you are aiming to attract must be researched when more than one nest box is to be placed.
While we can do everything in our means to make our gardens inviting, installing a wild bird house may not always guarantee results straight away but will certainly put you in good stead for them nesting with you in the future.
Birdhouses
