If I put up birdhouses...

[sharyn]

Will the birds use them insead of the building nests in the eaves or will I just attract more birds?

[3PinkRoses]

Hi, of all the bird houses I've put up, I have never had a bird habitate one   but that's might just be me...we have a cat.
 Also, I have never had a blue jay build a nest right outside my kitchen window, low and quite easy to see. First time I have ever had this happen and now I can see them laying on some eggs

[raven]

Our birdhouses are usually occupied  and this year we seem to be getting more in the eaves as well.  I think they are opportunity nesters!:)

[sharyn]

So the answer is....maybe?   

[TimG]

We have a birdhouse outside the office window and two different species are always fighting over it.  I think the finches won this week.

Another thing you might try, after you put up a few bird houses, is hanging some tin foil strips around where you don't want them to next -- loose so they blow a bit in the wind.  The flashes scare them off.  Maybe it will scare them into the foil-free birdhouses...

[tcaarabians]

My experience, for what it may be worth, is that the birds in our environs here .. choose their own spots. They are natural in this habitat. Some build nests in the junipers.. some build them in the joshuas.. the owls build them in the tall cottonwoods. And, yes,,they will nest under your eaves unless you decide to block them out. But, it does depend on the bird.

Where you put seed down,, they will come. So, put it where you can enjoy watching them.

We have a lot of birdhouses here.. mostly because it's "Let's give Grandma another bird house for Christmas."  We just hang them up and the squirrels really enjoy them. We do have feeding stations for them and water. So, the birds are happy,, the squirrels are happy.. the grandchildren are happy.. and I am happy as a lark. cheryl o7o

[ForestGal]

Many years ago, when we still had eaves exposed, a pair of Steller's Jays made a nest in the eaves on the front porch near the front door.  It was fascinating, although jays' nests are very sloppy looking.  They had 4 kids, and it was so cool to watch them poke up their little heads, watching for mom or dad to bring lunch or supper.  A few years later we had soffiting installed, so that did away with the eaves.

I've never put out bird houses, don't know why.  Two or 3 years ago I was visiting on the spring garden tour, and walked past a bird house that was attached to the side of that house.  I heard little "cheeps" and my first thought was that there was some kind of sound system doing that.  Then mommy bird flew up with stuff in her beak, perched, paused when she saw me, then entered the house.  Came out empty-beaked, flew off, and repeated the scenario several times while I watched in fascination.  I love wildlife!

[makgirl]

Several years ago we noticed that a jay kept trying to build a nest in an eave of our carport.  The location was not optimal and the twigs and such kept blowing down.  So Rennman put up a couple of pieces of wood on both sides to keep the nest material in.  Nothing happened.  Then we had the carport re-roofed.  I asked the roofer if he could put some nest material in the spot with the wood and he grabbed a bunch of twigs and built them a nice house.  I wondered if they would nest in something that he had touched.    Then last spring we saw that a jay kept going into the "nest" and would sit in it for awhile.  I was so excited!  Then nothing.  I wanted Rennman to put a mirror over the top so we could see what's doing in the nest if they came back, but he didn't.  I just checked and THERE'S A JAY SITTING IN IT AGAIN!  I can see his/her tail feathers sticking out!  We'll see what happens this year.   So maybe if you build it (out of normal materials) they will come!  I think they just don't like those pre-fab houses you get from your grandkids. 

[makgirl]

Here he/she is:

     

[Nolena]

Very cool!

[tcaarabians]

Very, very cool picture. We want to see more pictures. As for the 'pre-fabs' .. I think it depends on the bird and the type of nest area it chooses. "Grandma's Christmas bird houses" have been the ones covered with seed and millet etc. The birds and squirrels attack it with a vengence. I've yet to see one bird here use them as a nesting area. We leave them up anyway. You know,, yard deco. The lizards seem to like them. Here we just have a good number of birds in the various trees.

Now what is that orange bird with the black head and white and black feathers?? I should likely post this question in the other section of the site here. best, cheryl o7o

[makgirl]

Taken yesterday- look close, there are two....they seem quite cozy....

[Joe Schmoe]

Now what is that orange bird with the black head and white and black feathers?? I should likely post this question in the other section of the site here. best, cheryl o7o

Black Headed Grosbeak

[tcaarabians]

That's the bird. Thanks.

[makgirl]

Below are a couple of pictures of the "babies" from the man made nest,  They were playing in the flower bed I was watering. 

         

[Sandyz]

cute pics.  can't wait to put up a birdfeeder.

[makgirl]

Two pics of one of the babies:

Note the "fuzz" still under the tail and the mostly dark gray front.  I can always tell the which ones are the babies- they hop funny and still get scolded by their parents.

[Wrightwood]

Thanks for sharing 

[makgirl]

Taken today- note the grey feathers still on his chest.....

[tcaarabians]

Beautiful shots. We don't have the jays with the crested heads here in P.H. The males are a lovely blue and
quite cheeky. cheryl o7o