Building Birdhouses and Creating a Bird-Friendly Landscape

Building birdhouses makes a rewarding winter project, but attracting birds requires more than just nesting boxes. A truly bird-friendly landscape provides four essential elements: shelter (shrubs and dense plantings), water (birdbaths or small ponds), winter food (berry-producing plants), and appropriate nesting sites.

Different bird species prefer different house dimensions, entrance hole sizes, and mounting heights. Research the birds common in your area to tailor your houses to their needs. Proper placement—facing away from prevailing winds, at the right height, with predator guards—dramatically increases occupancy rates.

Supplement houses with native plants that provide natural food and cover throughout the seasons. A diverse landscape supports more species than a monoculture lawn with a single feeder ever could.