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Spurce Up Your Garden With Decorative Birdhouses
By: Johann Erickson
Decorative Birdhouses are active garden ornamentation --the presence and movement of birds creates a fluid focal point for your garden. As such, placement is critical for you to earn maximum benefit from your birdhouses. Cavity nesting birds will not be attracted to your garden without the appropriate environment. Each bird has a particular way they want to live and specific needs.
You'll have a better chance of getting the feathered tenant of your choice if you do your research. For example, if you want to host Eastern Bluebirds, you'll need to place the birdhouse at approximately 5 feet high and provide an entrance of 1 — inch in diameter. On the other hand, The Northern Flicker is drawn by heights of up to 30 feet and needs a southeast facing home. Wrens like their nests to be located in shrubs, while Swallows desire close proximity to bodies of water. Building a pond or enhancing an existing one will make your garden more attractive to these particular birds. You will also enjoy the added aesthetic.
In addition to bird knowledge, you can attract most birds with a birdbath, carefully selected foliage, and plants that bear fruit. However, keep these a distance from the birdhouse so that the birds occupying it will not have to compete to keep it. If you don't want to mount a pole in your garden area, you can attach your birdhouse to a tree limb, tree trunk, or fence post.
Additional tips are as follows:
Situate the birdhouse entrance in such a way as to avoid overheating it.
Place the birdhouse out of the way of predators like cats and coyotes.
Allow for a clear flight pattern to the entrance hole.
Place the appropriate nesting material near your birdhouse to make it easy for birds to settle in.
Keep bird food fresh.
Birdhouses provide shelter for birds and also entertaining decor for you and your guests. The birds' presence provides dramatic beauty as the scenery changes each time you glance into your garden.
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