Meeting Your Birds' Nesting Needs

A new generation of birds will soon be entering the world, and the food and housing we provide can make a significant difference on how well they will thrive and survive in our own backyards.

Recent research studies show that birds with access to bird feeders often lay their eggs earlier than those without feeders. This is significant because earlier broods typically have better rates of survival and fledging success than later ones.

Feeders also allow breeding birds to spend less time searching for food and more time selecting better nesting sites and constructing higher quality nests. The adults will also have more time available for protecting their nest, eggs and young from predators.

When abundant food is accessible to parent birds it means that more food is provided to their chicks. Studies have shown that this extra nutrition reduces aggression among nest siblings and increases their rate of growth.

But food is not the only key in helping birds to nest successfully in your yard.

A properly designed and installed nesting box can make a significant improvement in nesting success, especially during extreme periods of cold and damp weather. Be sure to select a nest box that is appropriate in size for the types of bird species you want to attract. 

Here are elements of a good nest box: 

• Drainage holes at the bottom of the box
• Ventilation near the top of the box
• Clean-out access
• Rough/ grooved/ or added fledgling ladder 

Placement Suggestions:

• Minimize Traffic around the nest box.  Place at least 15-20 ft away from feeders and bird baths.
• Face the nest box away from prevailing winds in an open spot.
• Protect the nest by mounting it to a pole or post that has a baffle below. Nest boxes that are hung should be at least 5ft high and attached to a sturdy structure so that it cannot fall.

When to Set Up a Nest Box:

At WBU, anytime is a good time to put up a bird house (nest box).  Generally speaking, in our area birds begin to start house hunting in the middle/ end of March. Nesting season generally goes from March thru August.  If you are wanting to attract nesting bird in your nest boxes this spring its best to put boxes up well before the end of March.  The earlier the box is out the more time bird have to finding and using your box.  Depending on when you put it out, bird may use the nest box as a winter roost or to seek shelter in unfavorable weather.  Don't be discouraged if birds don't find the box the first season.  It may take a few years for birds to find and use it.  

Monitoring and Cleaning Your Nest Box

Once nesting season begins, you can start to monitor your nest box.  There is so much joy in watching the next generation of young being raised.  Adults will begin to bring in nesting material to create a nest.  Soon eggs will appear, and you can witness the egg-citement around incubation! Within 10 days - 3 weeks (depending on bird species) you will find yourself the landlord to a family with nestlings.  Watch as adults feed and tend to their young.  Depending on the design on your box, you may have a monitoring access- a panel that can open to view the nest inside.  If you choose to monitor the nest be sure to lightly tap on the box to allow the adult bird time to leave.  Be sure to also limit viewing time to less than a minuet per week!

If you've been paying attention to when your nestlings fledge, you can clean your nest box in between broods.  Cleaning the box also helps with eliminating parasites and helping the adults prepare for the next round.  

Dealing With Invasive Bird Species

For the best information on how to deal with invasive bird species occupying your nest box visit: NestWatch.org

Got Nesting Material? Yards with safe nest sites and ample construction material are very attractive to nesting birds!

 While birds don't need out help to find nesting material, it is nice to give them a helping hand during a stressful time of year. Plus you can attract more birds to your yard if you provide nesting material for them- giving you a front row seat to interesting nesting bird behaviors!  

Here is Some Suggested Nesting Material:

• NATURAL RESOURCES: Dried pine needles, dried leaves, dry grasses, plant fluff, moss, bark strips, small twigs and sticks.
• WBU Natural Nesting Material LEARN MORE!

Things To Consider

Material to Avoid: plastic/synthetic material, tinsel, cellophane, foil, dryer lint, yarn or string, long or treat animal hair, long or treated human hair

Many times these types of material can be harmful or deadly to baby birds.  It's IMPORTANT to remember that just because birds will use certain items like plastics, dryer lint, and yard doesn't mean they should be using those materials. We can help birds make safer choices by making natural and safe materials more easily accessible during the nesting season.  

 Nesting Season- How Cool is That?!

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