If you are a lover of birds, chances are that you would love to provide them with a healthy backyard bird habitat. Not only will the birds enjoy what you provide for them, but you will be able to enjoy listening to their singing and watching their intriguing activities. In actuality, it is not that difficult to create a good habitat for birds. After all, they essentially only need the things that we need: food, water and shelter. If you provide those three things in your backyard, then you will soon have a family of birds living with you that will certainly provide much pleasure and entertainment to your days.

Offering a variety of food is best. Many birds enjoy eating insects; they may also enjoy fruits and nuts. You can provide some of these things for them, but it could be costly over a long period of time. It is best if you would plant trees and other plants that offer the food they like to eat. Some suggestions are oak trees, cranberry bushes and sunflowers. Bird Feeders are another way to provide for the birds. There are different types of feeders and seeds to fill them. Large birds enjoy a platform feeder. These will hold fruits and nuts as well as seed.

Don’t forget that they will need a water supply close by. It is wonderful if you have a natural stream or creek, but not all of us do. Man-made ponds are great too. But most of us rely on bird baths and fountains. Due to predators, always a problem, you will need to position these in an open area so they can be on watch at all time.

The last item of need is shelter. It is great if you have a lot of trees and shrubs. But, aside from that you can provide bird houses. You can’t just put them anywhere. Birds are territorial and may fight for their domain. Be sure to place them far enough apart to assure that your birds have a happy nesting experience. Not all the same birds use the same houses. Be sure to research each house you hope to provide. Some may like to be in the open on a fence post close to the ground. Blue Birds will enjoy that.

Birding is fun. So let’s make it a good experience by creating the most natural backyard bird habitat possible.

Molly has been writing about birds for over 10 years. Please visit her latest website about backyard birds at Best Bird Feeders, with information about platform bird feeders, as well as many more interesting backyard bird discussions.

Definition Of A Nautical Birdhouse

Usually, those who are not bird enthusiasts, think a bird house would be a square box with a roof. They think the houses would be made of scraps of lumber and nailed on a crooked fence post. However, people who love birds are aware there is a wide range of possibilities when it comes to picking a birdhouse and a nautical bird house appears to always be a favorite.

hose new to bird houses may think a nautical bird house is for pelicans or sea gulls. Of course those birds are too big. A nautical bird house is built for song birds. Generally speaking a marine bird house is constructed to resemble a nautical theme. Light houses are what a majority of nautical bird houses are designed to resemble. Of the huge variety of shapes and sizes of bird houses, for instance log cabins,churches, fire stations, general store, and Victorian houses, for some reason the nautical theme seems to be the most popular.

Constructing A Marine Birdhouse

Unfortunately the average person does not have the talent to construct a nautical bird house. It probably will take a skilled woodworker to build the detailed form of a lighthouse. Perhaps you have the talent or just want to give it a go then spend time finding the right pattern and have some fun. Otherwise it might be prudent to buy one that is already made. The main thing to be wary of when buying is to stay away from metal. The nautical bird house like all bird houses should have no metal.

How To Hang A Marine Birdhouse

First consider the ideal placement of the nautical bird house, it should be out of reach of predators such as dogs or cats so they cannot eat the baby birds. Then in the early winter, when most the birds have migrated to a warmer place you should take the bird house down, clean it out and store it indoors. Often when someone purchases a marine birdhouse that looks like a lighthouse, they never plan to use it for birds but rather they will use it as a decorative piece for inside the home.

As so many bird enthusiasts have found, you cannot go wrong with the nautical bird house theme. Beauty, uniqueness and function combined into one is part of these wonderful pieces.

There are safety factors to consider when buying or building a bird house. There are some birds that will use a bird house and others that are not attracted to them.

Types of Bird Houses

The type of bird house you will use depends on the type of bird or birds that you want to attract to your home.

Bird houses come in many shapes, sizes, colors and materials. One of the best types of bird houses is the wooden one. There are several reasons to choose this type of bird house. Wooden bird houses can breath for ventilation, are durable and have a good insulation quality to them.

Gourds are another good material for bird houses. They are functional, breathable, and pretty as well. Properly designed pottery, concrete, and plastic houses will breathe and are also durable.

When choosing the bird house that you will use for your feathered friends always check for proper ventilation, drainage, and easy access for maintenance and monitoring. When considering the type of bird house that you want another thing to think about are safety and maintenance.

Safety and Proper Maintenance

Items to consider once you have chosen the type of bird house that you want are ventilation, drainage, ease of access for maintenance and protection from predators.

You should also make sure that no harmful chemicals where used on the materials used for the building of your bird house. You would not want your new friends to become sick.

Part of proper maintenance of your new bird house is to check them for unwanted critters, such as fleas, wasp, or flies.

Sometimes mice and others will want to take up residence in your bird house. The main thing to remember if this happens is to remove them. If insects are the problem, use only pesticides that are not harmful to your feathered friends.

“If wasps are a problem, coat the inside top of the box with bar soap” (US Fish & Wildlife Service “Homes for Birds”).

One of the problems that you may encounter while cleaning the nest and parasites or insects are present, baby birds may also be present. If one of the baby birds gets out of the nest you can pick it up and put it back where it was. Birds have a lousy sense of smell and they will not reject the babies because you helped them.

Don’t let the care and safety be a deterrent in deciding whether you want a bird house or not. The upkeep and maintenance is part of the joy and can be a wonderful way to learn more about your new birds. You will quickly become a backyard birder with your new bird house or houses. The joy of watching beautiful bird is an immeasurable pleasure.

If you want to make your own delicious bird food, check out this website.