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A lady purchased a birdhouse for an American Goldfinch from us and e-mailed me yesterday asking a rather simple question, “Where should I put this birdhouse? ” While it seems like a simple question it shows she's doing her homework and is taking the right steps to do all she can to attract the American Goldfinch.

If she didn't care what kind of bird came into her yard, even the noxious House Sparrow, then placement is unimportant.

The House Sparrow is so aggressive it will nest virtually anywhere and even invade existing nests, break any eggs there or kill chicks, throw them from the nest and build its own nest on top of the existing one! If this lady wanted this little thug in her backyard she could put the birdhouse anywhere.

It's probably get used.

If you want a certain bird to come to your yard you have to do everything possible to make the environment exactly right for them.

You also should do everything you can to discourage other species from using the house. Chickadees, some Wrens and some Warblers use entry hole sizes of 1 1/8″ or smaller and this is too small for the House Sparrow to use. However, houses made for the Eastern Bluebird or the Tree Swallow have to be larger and this can also be used by a house Sparrow. Birds also have a preference of height above ground for their homes and this brings us back to the question of where to place the house. For example Purple Martins prefer their houses 6-20 feet above the ground while the Eastern Bluebird prefers their homes only 4-6 feet above ground.

You wouldn't expect a Purple Martin to use a house only 4 feet above ground so your placement really does matter! Even if you get the height exactly right it also depends on where you place the birdhouse. Many birds are particular about their environment. Purple Martins prefer an open area near water. Think of something like a golf course.

The Brown-headed Nuthatch however prefers open woods or the edges of a similar area and would most likely not use a box perfectly suited to it in the same place preferred by the Purple Martin.

If you've ever set up a birdhouse for a particular type of bird and found it was not being used it's probably due to the fact you've placed it somewhere the bird simply does not want to be. Most people think that you buy a birdhouse, stick it somewhere high and birds will use it. Well, some bird probably will use it.

If all you want are some birds then this is just fine.

If you want to attract the House Sparrow and have it drive other birds away from your property this is all you have to do. Many of the generic birdhouses on the market are perfect for the House Sparrow. Attracting a desirable species to your yard requires a little more thought and planning.

You want a birdhouse designed for the bird you want, a house that takes into consideration the floorspace, height of the opening above the floor, the diameter of the entry hole and that actual location of the house both above ground and surroundings.

I answered the lady who purchased the American Goldfinch birdhouse to place it 12 feet above the ground in one of the trees that she said surrounded her property. She had sparse woods on one side and it was brushy and weedy there.

I told her it would be the perfect location for these beautiful little seed eaters. She wants American Goldfinches and she's stacking the deck in favor of them using the house. Most likely she'll have Goldfinches nesting there this year.

There's a bit to consider attracting birds to your property. A Wolf Mountain bird you want to attract and our store even explains the environment they prefer. categories: Wild birds,wood birdhouses,wood bird houses,backyard birds,wild birds,natural birdhouses,bird nests,nesting boxes,birds,nature,birdhouse,yard,landscape,garden

Articoolz.com > Where Should I Place My Birdhouse?