Saturday, June 1, 2013

Choosing Decorative Bird Houses For Your Garden

By Ladonna Chambers


Decorative bird houses come in many beautiful architectural designs. However, they should not just be pleasurable to look at but are meant to serve a purpose too and have to be designed accordingly. As well as adding aesthetic appeal to any garden or patio, they are there to help invite and protect birds.

The designs for these items are extremely varied. Many of them appear like miniature homes for humans with porches, pillars and windows. There are log cabins, townhouses and even Victorian mansions. They are delightful to look at and create a lovely feature in a garden. It is a good idea to choose a design that compliments the style of garden. A hobbit or fairy house may suit a more quirky garden while a townhouse will compliment a modern, formal one.

Make sure that the bird house is bought from a reputable supplier so that construction is strong enough to last years and stand up to the worst weather. Wood is the most popular choice of material as opposed to metal as it is a good insulator and blends in well in a garden. The interior is not painted but the exterior may be painted in any color from green to white. No toxic chemicals or sealants should be used.

Construction must also allow for easy cleaning. Many of these items are constructed to make this easy with sides that swing, fronts that can be removed or roofs with hinges. Ventilation holes keep air circulating and drainage holes prevent water from accumulating inside causing mold. A slight roof overhang is useful for keeping rain out of the entrance hole.

Size of the entrance hole can affect what birds are drawn to a house. Small birds like wrens, swallows and finches want a small entrance hole to make sure other bigger birds cannot get in. The entrance height is also important as predators may try and scoop around inside the hole for eggs or babies if it too low.

With regard to the actual floor space inside, babies need room to grow. Birds like Purple Martins prefer to nest together as families so they need a house with many rooms or stories.

Safety is one of the most important considerations if you want to attract birds. A pole mounted house may offer more safety than one in a tree as predators may have a hard time climbing the thin pole. It is better to position a house far away from potential predators and where it is protected from direct sunlight and prevailing winds.

There are so many designs to choose from when it comes to decorative bird houses. A beautifully designed and constructed one can add instant appeal as a feature in any garden. However, appearance is not the only consideration. If it is to function properly, the safety and comfort of the birds must be considered when making a choice. As long as safety and food are provided, they will be attracted.




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