Bird Houses and Roosting Boxes - Are They Needed? Absolutely!

Bird Houses and Roosting Boxes - Are They Needed? Absolutely!

by Steve D Miller

There are many North American birds that do not utilize man made bird houses. However, there are also many North American birds that do use them, and they have survived in large part because of man-made bird houses.

One such bird is the Eastern Bluebird. Eastern bluebirds will readily use a nesting box or bird house if appropriately built and placed. The bluebird house should be left up all year long as these birds will use them for cover in the cold winter months as well. They are also attracted to mealworms and suet from platform feeders if available in your yard. They have a bright blue color, some gray on head and wings, with white and rusty red coloring on breast, rump, and sides.

Indeed, many bluebirds would not make it through the year due to cold weather, predators, and increased competition for acceptable dwellings. By providing a bluebird house, you can help keep their population up. These bright blue birds can also be attracted to your yard by choosing berry-producing shrubs for planting in your yard.

Other birds that utilize bird houses/nest boxes or roosting boxes are: Titmice, Wrens, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers, Purple Martins, Bluebirds, Owls, Tree and Violet Green Swallows, Barn Swallows and Phoebes, Flycatchers, and more.

In the dead of winter when temperatures are extreme, a larger space can be used to attract more birds to roost and stay warm. If you do decide to have more than your year round bird houses for bird shelter, you may try a larger bird roosting box. These boxes should use thicker wood to keep more heat in and an entrance lower to the bottom of the box, rather than toward the top of the box, may help keep it warmer. As the heat rises, it will be less likely to escape out of the lower entry hole. You may also want to use larger dimensions for the interior to accommodate more roosting birds with inside perches and scored interior walls for easy climbing. For safety, try to use a metal guard around the entrance holes to deter predators such as squirrels and raccoons. Also fewer air vent holes or gaps will help keep cold out and heat in. The same can be done by using your year round bird houses and just temporarily plugging or blocking ventilation holes to keep warmth in.

Other tips for Roosting birds in winter:

You can add a second entrance to your roosting box for easy access for many birds. This will provide a quick exit for larger numbers of birds when they are going out to feed or threatened by predators. Adding some wood chips or moss at the bottom of the box will help keep birds warm and comfortable on cold nights. This also can be done with your bird houses already set up in your yard or garden. Finally, a darker colored exterior will also help warm your bird box with the sun's rays.