A Pet's View / May 2005
Wild Birds Looking for Home
By Mary Santer
It's hard to believe, but Spring is here and that means many wild birds are looking for a tree cavity or other location to call home. Moms, Dads and kids can play an interactive role in spring nesting. By adding a nesting box to the backyard, families can discover even more ways to enjoy the birds this spring.
It is entertaining and educational to watch birds as they go through the many stages of their lives including choosing a nest site, making the nest, laying eggs, feeding their hatchlings and watching the fledglings as they venture out on their own. And, it is important to put houses up as soon as possible because many birds are already looking for suitable nesting spots.
Birds that use nesting boxes are the species that normally build nests in tree cavities, but since few hollow trees remain in cities and suburban yards, man-made nesting sites have been credited with helping increase the decreasing populations of cavity dwelling wild birds.
Bluebird enthusiasts across the continent have created miles of Bluebird trails which consist of Bluebird nesting boxes placed at appropriate intervals. These trails often help maintain and increase Bluebird populations.
In addition to providing sites to raise baby birds, the nesting boxes also shelter the many birds which brave the winter months and sudden cold snaps in early spring. Among the most common birds seen during winter are chickadees, wrens, titmice, bluebirds, owls and woodpeckers like flickers.
There are many different styles of nesting boxes available, including boxes that are decorative and those that are specially designed for the nesting requirements of specific birds. Nesting boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate bluebirds, wrens, titmouse, owls flickers and chickadees. Nesting boxes should meet six requirements.
They should be designed for the species, according to the bird's size and nesting requirements. They should have ventilation holds to provide release for heat build up and drainage holes in the bottom of the house. They should be easily cleaned and easily mounted or hung. And, they should be durable enough to withstand several seasons of use.
Many nesting boxes feature a unique, two way opening system. The side opens for eazy cleaning and the lid is hinged for observing or photographing the family's nesting activities. Watching the young birds grow is fascinating, but observers should limit their viewing to a few minutes every few days. Go ahead - put up a nesting box, sit back and enjoy the show!
Mary Santer is the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Parkersburg. For more information, call (304) 485-9884 or email: sfml4wildbirds@aol.com.
Copyright © 2005-2006 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
Femme Fair 2006
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