Attract Nesting Birds to Your Yard

Most North American birds nest in cavities, and although some, like woodpeckers can chisel their own holes in trees with their sharp beaks, others must find suitable holes for nesting.  Unfortunately, nest cavities can be very scarce for many wild birds.

One way to solve this shortage is to provide artificial cavities also known as nest boxes or birdhouses.  More than 50 species of birds use nest boxes.  Some of the most common are: bluebirds, kestrels, owls, titmice, nuthatches, wrens, chickadees, tree swallows and woodpeckers.  Nest boxes have been proven to help boost the declining populations of both bluebirds and wood ducks.

A bird house in your yard will provide a valuable home for birds and a most enjoyable bird watching experience for you.

The table below illustrates nesting habits of some backyard birds.