A birdhouse at Swan Lake Bird Sanctuary - Tree swallows.

We put up birdhouses to help and attract birds, but sometimes our good intentions lead to disaster.  Hole size is important.  If it is too big, predatory species can get in and take the eggs or chicks.  A perch also makes predation easier; birds don't need one, as they are fully capable of accessing the nest without it.

In the spring, when nesting begins, the air is cool and the sun rarely causes heat issues.  As the season progresses into summer, the risk of heat exhaustion to the vulnerable birds increases.  Putting the house in the shade or having some kind of insulation reduces the likelihood of their death.  Lots of ventilation also helps to encourage air circulation; just make sure the vents are not too large.

Birdhouses don't need a perch, but their walls can't be smooth either.  Rough, unsanded wood is all that is needed for the birds' access.  You can build the house out of plywood or rough-cut 1x4 and 1x6 lumber.  I have found that half-inch plywood works fine.  I use narrow boards for the front, bottom, and back and the wider boards for the sides and top.  Sloping the top using angled cuts allows runoff.

You don't have to paint the wood, although light colours can help reflect sunlight.  I generally use nothing; some stains and varnishes may produce fumes.  Some people attach another block of wood around the hole (double the hole's depth) to make it more difficult for predators to get in.

Since starlings and house sparrows arrived some 180 years ago, suitable holes for cavity nesters have been in short supply.  Building nice, clean birdhouses with small holes (1⅛ inch) keeps them out and allows our native birds to breed.  Just keep cats away (cats are the main reason bird populations are down so much) and keep in mind what makes a birdhouse successful, and you'll do our native birds a great favour.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com


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