Weathered wood works best for birdhouses

First, certain birds use cavities (birdhouses, holes in trees, etc.) but all cavity-nesting birds are not good to encourage. House sparrows and starlings both readily use birdhouses but are regarded as pests. They are aggressive and harm our native birds by nesting earlier, thus taking the choice spots. They also drive native birds out of established nests in birdhouses and kill the young birds and eggs.

Second, examine your yard (or the area where you plan to put up a birdhouse) to see what birds are potential tenants. Cavity-nesting birds common to the valley floor or in subdivisions may not be the same species as those in the foothills or mountains or along a lake or pond. Try to select a birdhouse to fit the species you are trying to attract.

This selection may include considering the overall size of the house, the diameter and placement of the entrance hole, the height from the ground that the house will be placed and the location for placement (in the midst of thick trees, at the edge of the trees and open areas, near a pond or stream, in a suburban back yard or in high mountains).

Next, consider the materials used for construction. I’ve found that weathered or untreated wood is the best material. Painted or stained wood will hold up better but I always worry about the effect of paint or stain on the birds. Also, don’t buy a birdhouse that has multiple nesting holes. These houses are designed for purple martins that like community nesting. Unfortunately, we don’t have a population of purple martins in Southern Oregon.

Also, stay away from units that combine a feeder and birdhouse. This only encourages other birds to be close to a nest, resulting in stress for the nesting birds.

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Finally, think about building a house yourself. The construction is relatively easy. There are many sources of information on construction ideas and plans. Books are readily available at local stores such as Barnes and Noble Booksellers and Wild Birds Unlimited in Medford. Also, check the Internet. There are many Web sites that are packed with information. One I like is www.birdsandblooms.com.

Here is a list of birds native to our area that you might target for possible tenants in your birdhouse: wood ducks, American kestrels, western screech owls, downy and hairy woodpeckers, northern flickers, tree and violet-green swallows, oak titmouse, black-capped, chestnut-backed, and mountain chickadees, white-breasted and red-breasted nuthatches, Bewick’s and house wrens and western bluebirds.

Putting up a birdhouse and watching a pair of birds raise a family is one of the great joys of birding. Just remember, do a little homework and use common sense. The birds will appreciate it.

Richard Cronberg is a birding enthusiast and photographer who lives in Central Point. Write him at P.O. Box 4283, Medford, OR 97501.