So, you want to place a birdhouse on your property? Whether youre hankering for a bluebird house or wishing to create a cute place for a nesting chickadee to raise her family, placing a bird house in your yard is a great idea. But in order to ensure nesting birds are safe, happy and comfortable, you must carefully select the correct birdhouse location, orientation and placement. So, which direction should a birdhouse face? In this article, well help you determine all that… and a whole lot more.
Monitor Bird Houses During Nesting Season
We can’t stress this enough: if House Sparrows are bothering other nesting birds, Entry hole size is important, and choosing the right size will lessen this issue. (See ‘How to Choose a Bird House‘ for specific info. If House Sparrows continue, you can get assistance by reading House Sparrows: Deadly Foreign Invaders.
Make sure your bird house is sturdy and will withstand powerful winds and violent storms.
Guidelines for Backyard Bird House Placement
Think like a mother bird when placing bird houses: she prefers her nest to be discrete and private, so place them away from areas that get a lot of traffic, like bird baths and feeders. However, bluebirds prefer to nest in peaceful, open spaces that are situated away from human activity. See our resource page for information specific to Bluebirds.
Trees, poles and spaces under eaves can work well. Free-standing poles with baffles can provide defense against a variety of predators, including raccoons, cats, and snakes—which make great climbers!
Avoid areas where pesticides or herbicides are used. In addition to being detrimental to wild birds’ general health, the chemicals have probably already wiped out their main food source, insects.
What direction should a birdhouse face?
A birdhouse’s entrance hole and direction should be away from the direction of the wind. A birdhouse in the United States is usually facing east, which faces away from the afternoon sun and the predominant wind.
Having trouble figuring out which way the dominant winds are blowing? It’s easy! All you have to do is set up a weather vane or go outside throughout the day, gradually observing the patterns. Finding out which way the wind usually blows in your location can also be done by using a weather app. To ensure that you choose the correct direction, you can use the compass orientation feature on your phone.
Hang your birdhouse away from the direction that the predominant wind is blowing in your yard or garden. See our in-depth guide for additional details on hanging a birdhouse!
FAQ
Where should you not put a birdhouse?
What direction should birdhouse face?