Birds are adorable creatures. The tweeting, the fluffiness of their feathers – I love them all. Even the majestic birds of prey are a beautiful sight to behold. That’s part of why I’ve always had birdhouses in my yard ever since I was a kid!
Growing up, I remember sitting in my grandmother’s sunroom and looking out at her huge backyard. It was connected to the woods, and she had several smaller trees as well. Hanging from the branches were all sorts of birdhouses and we would birdwatch together after eating lunch.
While many of those were handmade with my grandfather, nowadays I look for more creative ways to brighten up my yard. Some of the new styles of birdhouses are beautiful and fun while remaining functional! So, if you’re curious about this, keep reading!
The Benefits of Birds
While many of us may not realize, songbirds are in fact incredibly important for our ecosystems. They also have a lot of perks for our yards! You can read some about this here, https://www.thespruce.com/benefits-of-attracting-birds-386399, but I will gladly explain as well.
First of all, they work as great natural methods of pest control. Many of them eat insects that we don’t want in our gardens or yards. This includes mosquitos, aphids, slugs, grubs, and even spiders.
Next, they are additional pollinators for flowers. Many of us think of honeybees and wasps as the only pollinators, but plenty of birds are as well. Most notably is the hummingbird, but some types of orioles also sip nectar! Pollination is very important for plants and can help your own flowers too.
If you have a real problem with pesky weeds in your garden, attracting birds is another great method of managing them. A lot of types like sparrows eat a lot of them or gather them to build nests!
Who knew these adorable little guys were so helpful, too?
Some other perks are a little more philosophical than literal, but still worth touching upon. If you attract more birds to your yard, you are playing your own part in environmental conservation. The numbers of these cute creatures have been declining immensely in the past few decades.
Providing safe homes for them that are appropriate is certainly a positive. If you have children, watching them together can help with education as well! Teaching them about the wildlife in your yard and garden might inspire curiosity in biology or other fields in the future, or become a hobby!
Why Birdhouses?
Maybe you’re wondering why you should set these up at all. You could attract them to your yard in other ways, of course. However, getting a cottage birdhouse for your garden provides a haven for a family of birds that will not be in an inconvenient or destructive place.
I have a funny story in this vein. When I rented an apartment, there was a small hole in the exterior paneling. A pair of sparrows ended up building a nest inside the wall. It was right next to my bed, and I would hear scratching during the afternoon and night as well as pecking. Then I had a whole family tweeting in my ear all morning.
Obviously, a birdhouse can’t entirely prevent something like that (really, sealing the hole would have been best), but providing these spaces can really help. Not to mention, they really add to the curbside appeal of your yard.
If you have a beautiful outdoor space, it adds to the overall value of the home. It also helps to improve the overall neighborhood! Having happy birds flying around, eating pests, and pollinating flowers is never a bad thing.
Are They Safe?
All of the evidence points to the answer being yes. There is really no reason not to have them. Decorative ones in the shape of a cottage or other little style of home are also perfectly safe homes for birds. They can also add a great pop of charm into your yard!
They don’t take up much space, either. Even the small ones provide a safe environment for the intended residents while not being overly bulky or obnoxious. If you’re into landscaping, the stylized houses might be a good option for you, but they are not always necessary.
They are in fact so safe that they are safer than natural bird nests. You can read further on that topic here. If you are feeling unsure about selecting one, there are a few things you can keep in mind.
Important Features
Just like for our homes, a bird house should have good ventilation. This can be a few small holes, but there are other methods. The entrance should be a good size for whatever local wildlife is in your area. Just make sure it’s not too big so it can’t be raided by squirrels!
It should also have drainage options, particularly if you live somewhere that it rains often. You don’t want it to flood! This helps with maintaining it as well, as it will be easier to clean that way.
The most important thing is to ensure that whatever you select is avian-friendly. It should be made with non-toxic materials. Preferably, the inside of it will not be painted or have too much décor – otherwise, it might not be as comfortable for the residents.
While perches might look cute, they can make it easier for predators to get to the inside. A small platform to land on is generally better. Just keep all of this in mind as you consider your choices.
Beautify Your Yard Today!
While these boxes are small and unintrusive, they can make for an excellent staple for any yard or garden. Sit back and relax as you watch the birds build a home for themselves and raise a little family in the safe home you have provided!
Besides this stress relief, nature will thank you. Keeping pollinators safe and maintaining pests in a natural way rather than with harmful chemicals is only a good thing. Talk about perks!
Birds are adorable creatures. The tweeting, the fluffiness of their feathers – I love them all. Even the majestic birds of prey are a beautiful sight to behold. That’s part of why I’ve always had birdhouses in my yard ever since I was a kid!
Growing up, I remember sitting in my grandmother’s sunroom and looking out at her huge backyard. It was connected to the woods, and she had several smaller trees as well. Hanging from the branches were all sorts of birdhouses and we would birdwatch together after eating lunch.
While many of those were handmade with my grandfather, nowadays I look for more creative ways to brighten up my yard. Some of the new styles of birdhouses are beautiful and fun while remaining functional! So, if you’re curious about this, keep reading!
The Benefits of Birds
While many of us may not realize, songbirds are in fact incredibly important for our ecosystems. They also have a lot of perks for our yards! You can read some about this here, https://www.thespruce.com/benefits-of-attracting-birds-386399, but I will gladly explain as well.
First of all, they work as great natural methods of pest control. Many of them eat insects that we don’t want in our gardens or yards. This includes mosquitos, aphids, slugs, grubs, and even spiders.
Next, they are additional pollinators for flowers. Many of us think of honeybees and wasps as the only pollinators, but plenty of birds are as well. Most notably is the hummingbird, but some types of orioles also sip nectar! Pollination is very important for plants and can help your own flowers too.
If you have a real problem with pesky weeds in your garden, attracting birds is another great method of managing them. A lot of types like sparrows eat a lot of them or gather them to build nests!
Who knew these adorable little guys were so helpful, too?
Some other perks are a little more philosophical than literal, but still worth touching upon. If you attract more birds to your yard, you are playing your own part in environmental conservation. The numbers of these cute creatures have been declining immensely in the past few decades.
Providing safe homes for them that are appropriate is certainly a positive. If you have children, watching them together can help with education as well! Teaching them about the wildlife in your yard and garden might inspire curiosity in biology or other fields in the future, or become a hobby!
Why Birdhouses?
Maybe you’re wondering why you should set these up at all. You could attract them to your yard in other ways, of course. However, getting a cottage birdhouse for your garden provides a haven for a family of birds that will not be in an inconvenient or destructive place.
I have a funny story in this vein. When I rented an apartment, there was a small hole in the exterior paneling. A pair of sparrows ended up building a nest inside the wall. It was right next to my bed, and I would hear scratching during the afternoon and night as well as pecking. Then I had a whole family tweeting in my ear all morning.
Obviously, a birdhouse can’t entirely prevent something like that (really, sealing the hole would have been best), but providing these spaces can really help. Not to mention, they really add to the curbside appeal of your yard.
If you have a beautiful outdoor space, it adds to the overall value of the home. It also helps to improve the overall neighborhood! Having happy birds flying around, eating pests, and pollinating flowers is never a bad thing.
Are They Safe?
All of the evidence points to the answer being yes. There is really no reason not to have them. Decorative ones in the shape of a cottage or other little style of home are also perfectly safe homes for birds. They can also add a great pop of charm into your yard!
They don’t take up much space, either. Even the small ones provide a safe environment for the intended residents while not being overly bulky or obnoxious. If you’re into landscaping, the stylized houses might be a good option for you, but they are not always necessary.
They are in fact so safe that they are safer than natural bird nests. You can read further on that topic here. If you are feeling unsure about selecting one, there are a few things you can keep in mind.
Important Features
Just like for our homes, a birdhouse should have good ventilation. This can be a few small holes, but there are other methods. The entrance should be a good size for whatever local wildlife is in your area. Just make sure it’s not too big so it can’t be raided by squirrels!
It should also have drainage options, particularly if you live somewhere that it rains often. You don’t want it to flood! This helps with maintaining it as well, as it will be easier to clean that way.
The most important thing is to ensure that whatever you select is avian-friendly. It should be made with non-toxic materials. Preferably, the inside of it will not be painted or have too much décor – otherwise, it might not be as comfortable for the residents.
While perches might look cute, they can make it easier for predators to get to the inside. A small platform to land on is generally better. Just keep all of this in mind as you consider your choices.
Beautify Your Yard Today!
While these boxes are small and unintrusive, they can make for an excellent staple for any yard or garden. Sit back and relax as you watch the birds build a home for themselves and raise a little family in the safe home you have provided!
Besides this stress relief, nature will thank you. Keeping pollinators safe and maintaining pests in a natural way rather than with harmful chemicals is only a good thing. Talk about perks!
