More About: Birdhouse Construction and Placement
To be fully effective, birdhouses must be constructed and placed according to a species’ nesting, feeding, singing and breeding preferences. We use plans from the Cornell Ornithology Laboratory and have constructed a protocol to guide your effort.
Our birdhouse recommendations are based on the types of birds that do (or should) prefer to live in New Hampshire habitats according to the NH Wildlife Action Plan 2020. Additional research based on the State of New Hampshire Audubon Birds Conservation Guide provides additional information about the declining numbers of various native and migrating songbirds and aerial insectivores that are also residents of our meadows and the abutting shrub lands and forests. Both of these documents and many other miscellaneous articles and studies indicate that providing quality housing for the cavity-nesting species can significantly increase bird populations. Recommendations for forest, forest-edge and wetland species (such as Northern Flicker, Owls, Ducks, etc.) are TBD.
The following instructions are for grass, meadow and shrub habitats only.
Bluebird and Swallow Birdhouse and Placement Recommendations
The primary advice is found at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Nestwatch website for all birds. Houses for Bluebirds and Swallows fortunately are very similar in their requirements. An alternate design with excellent features is the Carl Little Bluebird Box. Both are moderately difficult to build out of standard sized cedar and pine building materials and are very easy to clean and maintain in the fall. They are also relatively inexpensive at about $12 per unit.
Placement Protocol
The placement of the houses is critical for successful nesting and fledging of the young birds. NestWatch and the North American Bluebird Society recommend:
• Bluebird boxes should be placed at least 300’ apart in grassy habitat. They like to nest near other Bluebirds, but not too close.
• To decrease competition from Tree Swallows, set a pair of Swallow nest boxes about 15–20’ apart between the Bluebird boxes.
• Place within 100’ of trees and shrubs from which the adults can hunt for insects and baby bluebirds have a nearby destination for their first flight safely from predators.
• Face towards trees or shrubs.
• Face southwest, away from prevailing winds
Birdhouse Mounting
The post should provide an elevation of 4’-6’ above the ground. 1/2” black iron is predator-proof and the most economical at $20 for a 10’ length. In order to easily remove them prior to mowing, a 2’ section of 1” PVC can be sunk in the ground as a base. The benefits to this method include high strength, longevity, ability to face the house in any direction, easy installation, ability to easily detach the house for maintenance, and ability to separate the mount at ground level for mowing.
Birdhouse Density
Due to considerations of food supply, territoriality and aesthetics the University of Vermont recommendation is to use no more than 4 birdhouses per acre. Too many visible birdhouses may have a negative impact on the natural experience of the users of the grasslands, while too few may not provide enough options to attract a variety of species. It is recommended to place no more than 4 birdhouses (2 pairs with the recommended spacing) in each grassland. Observation of spring nesting activity can help determine which locations will benefit from additional or re-located housing.
Time Considerations
There are a couple of critical deadlines to consider for implementation of these recommendations.
• Bluebirds and Swallows begin to look for housing in early spring. Depending on the weather, this could be as soon as February. Building as many houses as possible during the winter is therefore highly desirable.
• Mount and mark the post bases before the ground freezes. The houses can be added before spring by simply dropping them into the base.
Building and mounting birdhouses can be a fun learning experience for community members and
students! Contact the ACC when you are ready to assemble and place a birdhouse.