Where to mount your birdhouse
To attract nesting birds, it is important to mount or hang the birdhouse in the ideal location. Here are some factors to consider when deciding on where to place a birdhouse.
Mounting Mechanism: How the house is mounted affects its safety and security. Our birdhouses are designed to be attached to a tree, building, or pole where they will be stable and comfortable to birds.
Location: Ideally, the house should be in a private area somewhat remote from nearby feeders or bird baths where a lot of other activity could make brooding parents anxious. Placing a birdhouse in a more concealed area helps camouflage the house, and nearby branches for perching will give adult birds a good place to watch over their family.
Height: Houses for most of the smaller species can to be mounted between 5’ to 15’ high. For some nuthatches and downy woodpeckers, they can go as high as 20’. Higher houses are generally safer from cats and similar predators, but this is just a general guide. Birds are opportunists and will make use of many different situations.
Climate: In rainy areas, it’s best to mount a birdhouse in a sheltered area, while in a very hot region, a cooler, shaded location is essential. The entrance hole should always be facing away from prevailing winds to help protect delicate hatchlings from stiff breezes or wind-driven rain.
Safety: Regardless of where the house is mounted, it should be sturdy and resistant to wobbling, slipping, or falling. Try to eliminate branches close above or below the birdhouse to help deter predators such as cats, raccoons, rats, and squirrels.
Other Houses: Even social birds need privacy to feel secure when raising a family. Usually, only 1-2 birdhouses should be used in one yard at the same time, with the exception of homes for colonial species such as purple martins. Mounting several houses, however, will give birds a greater selection for choosing the location they prefer and will increase the chances of birds nesting in the yard, even if not every house is used at once.
Other things to consider
To attract nesting birds, it is important to mount or hang the birdhouse in the ideal location. Here are some factors to consider when deciding on where to place a birdhouse.
Mounting Mechanism: How the house is mounted affects its safety and security. Our birdhouses are designed to be attached to a tree, building, or pole where they will be stable and comfortable to birds.
Location: Ideally, the house should be in a private area somewhat remote from nearby feeders or bird baths where a lot of other activity could make brooding parents anxious. Placing a birdhouse in a more concealed area helps camouflage the house, and nearby branches for perching will give adult birds a good place to watch over their family.
Height: Houses for most of the smaller species can to be mounted between 5’ to 15’ high. For some nuthatches and downy woodpeckers, they can go as high as 20’. Higher houses are generally safer from cats and similar predators, but this is just a general guide. Birds are opportunists and will make use of many different situations.
Climate: In rainy areas, it’s best to mount a birdhouse in a sheltered area, while in a very hot region, a cooler, shaded location is essential. The entrance hole should always be facing away from prevailing winds to help protect delicate hatchlings from stiff breezes or wind-driven rain.
Safety: Regardless of where the house is mounted, it should be sturdy and resistant to wobbling, slipping, or falling. Try to eliminate branches close above or below the birdhouse to help deter predators such as cats, raccoons, rats, and squirrels.
Other Houses: Even social birds need privacy to feel secure when raising a family. Usually, only 1-2 birdhouses should be used in one yard at the same time, with the exception of homes for colonial species such as purple martins. Mounting several houses, however, will give birds a greater selection for choosing the location they prefer and will increase the chances of birds nesting in the yard, even if not every house is used at once.
Other things to consider
- Offer nesting material nearby to entice birds to use the birdhouse more readily.
- Put up the house early so it is available as soon as birds begin looking for real estate.
- Check the house after storms or severe weather and repair any damage if needed.
- Leave the birdhouse up through fall and winter as a bird roost box for extra shelter.
- Birds may not seem picky about where they nest each year, but taking care to mount your birdhouse in the best possible way will make it even more attractive to all the cavity-nesting birds that need a place to call home.
Instructions
Our birdhouses come with part 1 of a two-part flush mount bracket installed on the back.
To mount on a flat surface, like a fence or a wall
Simply screw the second part (included with 4 screws) onto the mounting surface.
Our birdhouses come with part 1 of a two-part flush mount bracket installed on the back.
To mount on a flat surface, like a fence or a wall
Simply screw the second part (included with 4 screws) onto the mounting surface.
Hold the bracket against the surface (use a level, if available) and mark the four holes.
Now you can simply slip the house onto the bracket.
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Tree Mount
You can also use the installed bracket as a tree mount, using a large Zip Tie. A three foot zip tie will surround a tree with a 10.5” diameter. If you daisy-chain two zip ties, you can surround a 21” diameter trunk.
You can also use the installed bracket as a tree mount, using a large Zip Tie. A three foot zip tie will surround a tree with a 10.5” diameter. If you daisy-chain two zip ties, you can surround a 21” diameter trunk.
IMPORTANT: The FIRST thing to do is to slip the zip tie into the bracket on the back of the house The ridges on the zip tie should be facing out.
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Then secure it to the tree. If you tighten the zip tie against the tree before you put it in the bracket, it will be nearly impossible to hang the house on it.
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