Prepare for Spring Nesting Season

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Although spring sometimes seems slow in coming, it certainly doesn't for the birds. Some of our summer birds have already returned from their winter migration grounds. Most of them have traveled thousands of miles on their journey north and now face the stress of finding nesting sites, procuring a mate and rearing young. In addition, many species of summer songbirds are declining as nesting sites dwindle due to loss of habitat. The ideal backyard habitat offers birds nesting boxes, nesting materials, food and water to ease the stress of the mating season and help to boost the survival rate of their young. But it isn't necessary to build your bird habitat all at once.  Even a single nest box or a few feeders can help birds have a successful season.

If you have existing bird houses and nesting boxes, be sure to clear out any old, remaining nests from the prior nesting season. Birds will seldom use a box with old nests in them.  Then, using a stiff bristled brush, scrub the interior of the box with a solution of warm soapy water and a few drops of chlorine bleach. This will kill any remaining parasite eggs. Check to make sure there are no loose nails or screws and be sure it's securely mounted when you put it back up. Keep your bird houses well separated from each other and also quite a distance from your feeders so the birds will have a quiet, inconspicuous place to raise their young. Many birds are particular as to the type of housing they are interested in and how it is placed.  If you are purchasing a new house, or haven't had occupants in existing houses, our bird house guide has lots of tips on the type of house you should purchase and how it should be situated.

Birds are quite capable of finding their own nesting materials, but sometimes the items they choose can be less than ideal; pieces of plastic, dirty dog hair, paper scraps and any number of other odd additions.  By making nesting materials available, birds have an easier time building, and a better chance of constructing a nest that dries quickly in damp conditions. Available nesting materials consist of cotton or other natural fibers, moss, twine, or wool. These can be hung from a branch near your bird houses. Watching birds take bits of wool or moss and incorporating them into their nests is a lot of fun!

Although baby birds that are still in the nest eat a diet primarily of insects, worms or other bugs, parents will also take suet and mealworms to them.  These can be offered on a platform feeder along with seeds, or they can be fed in suet and mealworm feeders.  Providing a variety of seed mixes in hopper or tube feeders ensures that the parent birds are well fed and have the energy they need to provide for their young. Once the young are fledged, the parent birds will often introduce them to your feeders, but the babies will still beg to be fed.  It's very endearing to see the parents take food from the feeder and bring it to them while they are perched on a nearby branch.

Lastly, adding a bird bath or some type of water feature will really enhance your birding experience. Birds are drawn to water, especially moving water.  Although birds get most of their water requirements from the insects and berries they eat, they do seem to enjoy a drink now and then. And water for bathing is very important because birds need to keep their feathers clean and preened. Often you will see the whole family splashing together.

Creating and maintaining your backyard habitat brings lots of bird activity to your yard. There are few things more rewarding to a bird lover each spring and summer than watching the birds successfully raise the next generation and having them return year after year.

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• Posted at Monday, January 28, 2008 10:12 AM
• In Wild Bird Feeding Category | Permalink