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This article was written by
Maryland Master Wildlife Habitat
Naturalist Cathy Gilleland. For more
information or for the name of a
Master Wildlife Habitat Naturalist
in your area, please contact:
WindStar Wildlife Institute
10072 Vista Court
Myersville, Maryland 21775
Phone: (301) 293-3351
E-mail: wildlife@windstar.org
http://www.windstar.org
WindStar Wildlife Institute is a
national, non-profit, conservation
organization whose mission is to
help individuals and families
establish or improve the wildlife
habitat on their properties.
have made suitable nesting
sites and over-pruning shrubs,
we tend to keep our yards so
well-groomed that there is little
left in the way of twigs, long
grasses, and other popular
nesting supplies.
To compensate, early in the
spring offer such things as
twigs, bits of string (no longer
than 8"), strips of cloth, hair,
fur, and soft stuffing. Keeping
these items in piles rather than
randomly scattered means less
effort for the parents once they
start to build.
Those species that use mud
to construct nests will
appreciate a trash can lid sunk
a bit in the ground and filled
with clay soil that is kept wet.
To replace the dead tree
cavities, bird nesting boxes are
the usual choice. There are many
styles to choose from, often
with very specific opening sizes
to suit particular species. The
house should have no moving
parts or outside perches that
can ease the way for predators,
although cleats on the inside
below the opening are helpful for
fledging the young when the time
comes to leave the nest.
Except for aluminum homes
for purple martins, bird nesting
boxes should not be made of
metal, which gets hot, nor of
plastic which allows moisture
to build up.
Wood is generally preferred,
and it should have holes for
ventilation and drainage, and a
hinged top, front, or side for
easy cleaning at the end of the
season. It is a good idea to put
a new box up in the late summer
or early fall, so that you can be
sure that it will indeed be
shaded during the summer
months, and to allow it to
weather a bit before occupancy.
Predator guards are available,
and there should be a shrub or
tree 5'-15' away. Food sources
nearby reduce the searching for
parents, leaving them more time
to tend their babies. It may
take several seasons for birds
to find and use your houses, but
be patient.
Although birds often claim a
territory and will not let others
of the same species nest there,
it is not unusual to have 10
different nesting boxes per acre
used by different kinds of birds.
Although some are tolerant of
human interest, it is safest not
to look in on the eggs or babies
and risk frightening the parents
into abandoning the nest.
On page 3 you will find a list of
plants that are popular with a
variety of bird species. This is a
small sampling of possibilities.
For additional suggestions,
consult nature guides,
neighbors, a local nature center
or extension service, local
nurseries, or the Internet.
