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The Challenges of Raising a Feathered Family

Are you raising a child or two? ... maybe more?  If so, then you know how much effort it takes.  From choosing and caring for your home to feeding and teaching your little ones -- it takes a lot of work.  The demand on you is stretched out over a number of years. 

Birds must do the same things, but in just a matter of weeks ...

• first, they must find a mate
• then locate a nest cavity ... this is where you can help
• if they've had success -- its time to mate and lay eggs
• next comes the arduous task of incubation and hatching the eggs
• then the work really begins when babies hatch and must be fed ... keep your bird feeders full!
• finally, the ultimate moment when the babies fledge to begin the process of learning to survive on their own.  With luck they'll make it.

It's exhausting work and takes a lot of energy.  Constant family-rearing activities keep birds hungry, but they have little time to eat.  By providing food and bird houses to rear their young, we really can help birds thrive at this critical time.  Mother Nature gives us more in return, leaving us with a lasting impression of her wonder.

Birds That Use Bird Houses

Bird houses (nest boxes) should be an integral part of birdscaping you backyard if cavity nesting birds are present.  Depending on your location here are some cavity nesting birds that may visit your property:

• Bluebirds - Eastern, Western, Moutain
• Wrens - Carolina, Bewicks, House
• Titmice - Plain, Tufted, Bridled
• Chickadees - Black-capped, Carolina, Mountain, Chestnut-backed, Boreal
• Purple Martin
• Swallows - Tree, Violet-green
• Nuthatches - Red-breasted, White-breasted, Brown-headed, Pygmy
• Finch - House
• Flycatchers - Ash-throated, Great-crested
• European Starling
• Sparrow - House
• Woodpeckers - Red-headed, Golden-fronted, Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, Northern Flicker
• Owl - Barn, Screech, Northern Saw-whet, Barred
• Ducks - Wood, Goldeneye, Hooded Merganzer, Common Merganzer, Bufflehead

Nature provides nesting cavities most often seen as an excavated hole in a tree.  However, birds are opportunists and will use other types of cavities they decide are suitable and safe.  Birds like woodpeckers are equipped to excavate cavities in soft or dead wood.  Find out why offering bird houses to woodpeckers is a good idea (further down the page).

How Bird Houses Help

Birds have a difficult time finding suitable cavities where they feel safe and secure enough to raise a family.  As our world becomes more civilized the natural world faces more challenges.  Modernization, urban growth, habitat destruction, plus other man-made and natural environmental challenges have taken a toll.

One way we can help is to provide bird houses that are ornithologically correct.  That is, they are built to specific dimensions for size of box and entrance hole required by different species.  The entrance hole opening is especially important.  Birds need holes large enough to enter the box, but small enough to protect them from predators.  Scientific observation has provided the criteria for building bird houses to meet bird's needs.

We have a varied selection of Bird Houses for every species of cavity-nesting bird in North America.  Designed for each species by leading conservation experts, these products provide the correct dimensions, materials, ventilation and drainage.  You'll discover bird houses perfect for your feathered visitors.  Including them in your birdscape is a great way to help.

Nesting Material

Suet feeders come in very handy for providing nesting material like thin twigs, dog hair (shedding dogs do actually perform a good service), human hair, feathers, dried grasses, yarn, thread or string cut into 4-inch lengths, pieces of cotton, spanish moss, and pine needles.  Just put some of these items in a suet feeder and place where birds can easily find it.

Birds are also known to use butterfly wings, flower petals, spider webs, snakeskins and horse hair among other things to build their nests.  If you have the chance to view an abandoned nest you may be surprised by what you find.

How Many Eggs Do Birds Lay?

Have you ever wondered about the number of eggs a bird lays?  You might find these statistics for some common backyard birds interesting:

Are There Woodpeckers in Your Backyard?

Do you have woodpeckers coming to visit?  If so, you're lucky since they are such interesting birds to watch.  Occasionally, however, they can wear out their welcome if they decide to excavate a nesting cavity by pecking a hole in a building.  Don't worry or get angry, just put up bird houses constructed especially for woodpeckers ... they should move right in.

Conservation of Bluebirds

In recent years there has been a wide-spread conservation movement to help bluebirds (Eastern, Western and Mountain) make a comeback by providing Bird Houses to replace lost habitat.  Learn more about Bluebirds ... the beautiful harbingers of spring.  You'll be glad you did!

Specialty Bird Houses

Want to see what goes on inside bird houses?  If so, a specialty window bird house is the perfect answer.  It can be attached to your window glass so you can watch the nesting activities at close range.  These bird houses are a great educational aid for children.  For a close encounter with nature window-style Bird Houses can't be beat!

Most birds don't require bird houses to raise their young.  We've all seen the intricate nests usually discovered in a tree.  Do you know there is a way we can help these birds, too.  Nesting Perches help some birds that need a natural platform to construct their nest on.  They are ideal for backyards that have limited trees.  If you have Robins, Phoebes, Swallows or Doves visiting attach a Nesting Perch to a tree, house or fence.

You've Found a Baby Bird ... What Should You Do?

Finding a baby bird on the ground is a dilemma ... what to do!  what to do!  For a guide and how to contact a wildlife rehabber see Bird Rescue.

Helping Birds Survive Severe Winter Cold

Bird Houses have another function other than offering a place for birds to nest.  In the winter bird houses can provide protection from the cold.  Many birds use bird houses for roosting to share and conserve warmth.  Small wood cavities are best for those that roost by themselves.

Important Footnote regarding birds keeping warm in the winter.  A flame will flicter and die unless it has fuel to burn.  On short winter days, when food is scarce a bird may not succeed in gathering enough fuel (food) to sustain it through a severely cold night.  By feeding birds reliably all through the year ... and especially during the winter cold, we can help them make it through the night.  At Wild Bird Feeders and Wild Bird Seed you'll discover information so you can help.