[Nfb-krafters-korner] Providing bird houses

[Dixie]

If you want to see well designed bird houses, check at a birding store.

 

They will have the birdhouses with the designs that are made for attracting
birds as opposed to those made for attracting humans.

 

The bird houses you find at places like the Christmas Tree Shop or things
like that are designed for decoration more than suitability for specific
species of birds.

 

Another thing to know about providing bird nest boxes is that they need to
be cleaned between each brood.  The mites and other parasites left behind
from one brood can be really detrimental to the next brood.

 

This is done by washing it out with warm water and then rinsing it with some
water that has had a little bit of bleach mixed in.  Then wash it out again
really well and allow it to dry thoroughly before putting it back up for the
new residents.

 

When you set out your bird house it is best only to put a couple little
twigs or wood chips inside the house.  This gives the bird that this might
make a nice nesting sight.  You don't want things have been treated in any
way like mulch or packing materials.

 

Another nice way to encourage birds is by putting out a nesting ball.

 

This is made by making a hollow sphere of grapevine or other type of reeds.
Then stick nesting materials inside the sphere and hang it out for the birds
to find.

 

Some ideas for nesting material would be thin strips of cotton fabric, 4 or
5 inch pieces of leftover yarn, the dog hair you just brushed out of the
guide dog's coat, feathers, pieces of twine or rope.

 

Then the birds fish out the pieces they want for their nest.

 

  Happy birding!

Dixie

 

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