Photography by Paul Chmielowiec
The early morning chirping and chatter of songbirds makes a welcome start to any day. But as bird populations become increasingly threatened by pesticide use, city lights, global warming and destruction of habitats, the birdcalls are diminishing.
Last summer, the Toronto Botanical Garden launched a birdhouse design competition called For the Birds. Entries from three categories – professional designers, students, and individuals with an interest in birds – were submitted for display and judging. The showcase of birdhouses helped raise awareness of the plight of songbirds and promote ways of providing safe nesting sites. (You can find out how to enter the Canadian Living individual category for the Toronto Botanical Garden 2010 For the Birds competition here.)
Check out this photo gallery of entrants from the 2009 For the Birds competition.
Build it right
Bring the birds back to your yard by building a nesting box that's custom-made for the songbirds in your region. Each species has its own particular wish-list of household amenities. Purple martins, for example, like to live in colonies that look more like bird condos than snug little bungalows. Screech owls need a generous entrance hole (about seven and a half centimetres in diameter), while house wrens require a scant three-centimetre opening. A little research will help you design your dream birdhouse – and while you’re at it, you’ll learn more about the fascinating life of songbirds, too.
Building a birdhouse needn't be complicated or require creative flights of fancy (although it’s fun to add your own distinctive touches). The goal is to make a house that's durable, weather-resistant and safe. Start with the right materials: natural cedar weathers well and is untainted by preservatives; the exterior may be painted white to reflect heat, but never paint the interior.
To keep the inside dry, allow the roof to overhang the walls. Recess the floor and add drainage holes to prevent rainwater from seeping under the nest. Also, be sure to drill holes for ventilation – birds need to breathe! Incorporate a removable roof or wall, too, to make it easy to access the box to clean out old nests before the next breeding season. To discourage predators, extend the roof beyond the face to make it difficult for raccoons and other marauding animals to climb on top and reach into the entrance hole.
Where to place your birdhouse depends on the type of bird you want to attract: bluebirds, for example, like wide open spaces, while barn owls prefer their abodes on lofty tree limbs. Wherever it's situated, your birdhouse should be installed before the breeding season begins, typically from late March to early May, depending on the species. And be patient – it might take time for birds to find their new home.
Page 1 of 3 - find out how to attract birds to your garden on page 2 (and how to make your own bird house on page 3)
