The hustle and bustle of city life is all most people know these days.

Between jobs, after-school activities and the rest of life's demands, when is

there time to really kick back and enjoy nature?

While you may not see an opening in your schedule to head out on a

nature vacation, why not create a natural escape in your backyard. Even

small backyards can be natural havens. It all starts with a few wooden bird

houses.

Whether buying or making it, a wild bird house is a very simple addition

that can bring color and life to your backyard.

You need to know the kinds of birds you want to attract, and then use the

right bird houses to attract them.

Many birds are regional. If you don't know what birds live in your area, you

may want to do a little online research for 'bird watching' and your state or

region to get information about the birds that are regularly found near you.

Next, consider the size of wild bird house you want to hang. If you are

trying to draw smaller birds like chickadees or wrens, you should choose a

smaller bird house with a smaller opening. The birds don't want company,

so a hole that lets them in and keeps others out is perfect. Make sure there

is enough room inside. If you are looking to attract woodpeckers or other

larger birds, size the house up accordingly.

Think natural when it comes to wild bird houses. We recommend wooden

bird houses. This is a natural material, which the birds are used to being

around.

Many people see the words 'weather treated' on wooden bird houses and

think this is a great idea. After all, won't that keep the bird house from

rotting or breaking down from the elements?

It is better for the birds if you take your chances with the weather.

Weather treating is done through chemically treating the wood. Those

chemicals in wooden bird houses may not be healthy for the birds who

move in. It's best to go with untreated woods. Pressure treated, processed,

or even painted woods (at least inside) should be avoided as paint or

chemically treated parts of wood bird houses could harm birds, especially

hatchlings.

Consider your weather conditions. Slanted roofs help the rain to roll off

wooden bird houses. If you get a lot of rain in your area, making sure the

roof is a little wider than the top will allow the rain to roll off. This will

lessen the chance of it getting inside. Baby birds can drown in small

amounts of rain.

In case water gets inside, can it drain out? Very small holes in the floor can

help with this, keeping your wooden bird house dry. This is not only

healthy for the birds, but can also help to avoid rotting in the wood. Add a

few holes in the side or back of the wild bird house while you are at it, to

offer your birds fresh air.

Choose wooden bird houses that are easy to clean. Birds are messy and

wild bird houses need to be cleaned out or waste will really pile up.

Many wooden bird houses have a back or side door that can be opened for

cleaning. Do this regularly (at the end of the breeding season) as a filthy

bird house can lead to disease and make all the birds sick.

When putting up a wild bird house, think about predators. Cats and

raccoons are the most likely culprits. If you have a wild bird house perched

on top of a thin pole, it is harder for them to climb to it. You should put

any wooden bird houses a minimum of three feet off the ground,

preferably higher.

Want to really get points with the birds; don’t forget to put a feeder or two

and some water near their wooden bird houses, so they have access to

everything they need in your backyard.

For an incredible course with complete plans, “CLICK” the image below!