Bird Nesting Boxes

A nursery for baby birds

You might wonder what the difference between a nesting box and a bird house is - to be honest, there isn't really any difference. Both provide shelter and a nesting place for birds. Nesting boxes allow for baby birds to be born and raised in relative safety and comfort. Many scientists use them to track clutches of eggs and keep an eye on endangered avian species. They're a great way to help raise a family of birds in your yard - and provide a safe place to do it, as well.

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About 50 North American species of birds are cavity-nesters - or birds that nest in holes. These holes can be in trees or stumps, but with diseased and dying trees being wiped out by humans, nesting sites are becoming rare and birds are desperately fighting for access to nesting holes. By building a nesting box, you're helping out birds who can't find a hole to nest in and preventing the decline of certain bird populations. You can build your own nesting box or buy one - there are many different kinds, almost as many as there are birds.

Types of nesting boxes include single-compartment and multi-compartment boxes. Most birds will choose the single compartment, but purple martins like a multi-compartmented box. The box should be weatherproof and strongly fastened to whatever pole or tree you're going to use. The box should also be easily drained and ventilated so that the birds will be comfortable. Clean a nesting box once a season to remove any old nesting materials and parasites that may be inside.

Occasionally a bird will produce more than one clutch of eggs a season - if that happens, then parasites in the old nest can be a problem. You can solve this by placing another nesting box about 12 feet away from the first one. When the bird is ready to re-nest, she will leave the first box and you can clean it out without disturbing her nesting cycle.

You will want to mount the box in a place inaccessible to predators. Certain animals, like raccoons, cats and squirrels will attempt to steal and eat the eggs in the nesting boxes. There are several ways you can prevent this, including sizing the entrance holes accordingly or adding a baffle or dome to discourage climbing.