One main way to attract birds to your yard is by using nest boxes. the nest box shown above is built for tree swallows, I will hang it in spring. the best nest boxes are made of wood and have plenty of space inside of them. nest boxes were created to attract birds during the mating season so they can raise their babies inside of these boxes. due to bird habitat loss, more and more birds are showing up at nest boxes because they cannot find another home to nest in. up to 80 species of birds are known to nest in these special boxes. that includes wrens, woodpeckers, swallows, starlings, sparrows, jays, and more. one problem with nest boxes is you have to clean them when a bird moves out, unless they come back later in the season to raise another brood of chicks. chances are another bird will nest in the box the next year. that bird will often be the offspring of the parents who used to live there. one thing you should always do with the nest box is check them. often most nest boxes have a side or back that can open so you can see what is inside and so you can clean the nest box. you should check the box for starlings and sparrows. starlings will sometimes kill residents of nest boxes to take it over, often killing the eggs and young. if you have a swallow or jay nesting in the box you will probably not want to disturb it. these birds will become very protective of their eggs and young. they will swoop at you and sometimes even attack! remember they are only trying to protect their young from any possible threat. some ways to tell if a pair of birds is nesting in your box is:
-Birds will be seen flying in and out of the box
-Birds will be seen around the nest box or sitting right outside it
-nesting material will be seen hanging out of the box
-bird poop will be on the outside of the hole (Most likely from the young)
so, the best way to tell if a bird is nesting in your box is there will be poop in the grass below the feeder. some adult swallows will sometimes carry away their babies poop in their beak and drop it somewhere else, a way to keep the nest clean. so hang a nest box, check it, and clean it when the birds move out. choose a place to put it, and watch the birds come along to your backyard.
-Birds will be seen flying in and out of the box
-Birds will be seen around the nest box or sitting right outside it
-nesting material will be seen hanging out of the box
-bird poop will be on the outside of the hole (Most likely from the young)
so, the best way to tell if a bird is nesting in your box is there will be poop in the grass below the feeder. some adult swallows will sometimes carry away their babies poop in their beak and drop it somewhere else, a way to keep the nest clean. so hang a nest box, check it, and clean it when the birds move out. choose a place to put it, and watch the birds come along to your backyard.