Ben Lippen Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Is there a general rule for which direction a house should be placed? Away from the prevailing wind/weather? Or facing east? Or does it depend on the species, like the size, shape, and height of the house does? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed J Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Cleaning them out is the only thing that seems to matter for us. The one with the most left over stuff is the last one they use, the empty one is the first one we see someone moving into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Lippen Posted January 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Ed, do you put them up so you have good sight lines to them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed J Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Most of them can be seen from the kitchen window or the back steps (back of house faces north), but there are 2 that we can't see, but they have birds most years. Â Come to think of it, the only times our bird houses don't have birds are whn the squrils are in them in the spring first. We have had a few years where the houses fell on the ground or were left on a table and they still were used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Lippen Posted January 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Thanks. I just built these three, and have enough material left for a Robins shelf    Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedracer Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 I don't know if the orientation matters, but the size of the doorway and the size of the insides does. A gigantic birdhouse will not attract Bluebirds for instance, but squirrels will love it. You're getting sleepy. ....very sleepy..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Lippen Posted January 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 I don't know if the orientation matters, but the size of the doorway and the size of the insides does. A gigantic birdhouse will not attract Bluebirds for instance, but squirrels will love it. Â Â Yeah, each bird needs a different everything, That's what led me to ask about placement. I figure since I built these houses to spec., that I'd find some prime locations for them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogboy Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 a lot of it depends on the birds they are intended for  in general though, you want some morning sun to dry things out and warm them up  and afternoon shade to cool them  some species are quite fussy- bluebirds come to mind- not too high, not too low, edge of woods on a post  you are less apt to get birds you don't want if you try and make it as attractive as possible to the birds you do want  some designs are also better than others: hole size, interior volume, etc.  purple martins like to nest in groups, for example  reach out to local birders/conservation socities, etc. to see what they recommend for your area Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedracer Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Also Ben.... Â The height is very important. Some birds only like the tops of trees, others the middle, and still others like to be near the ground. Another consideration is that some birds will nest in the outer branches , while others are nearer the trunk. It's complicated. You're getting sleepy. ....very sleepy..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Lippen Posted January 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Thanks guys. A year of searching for that one good website with actual plans for birdhouses has made me fairly well versed on hole and box sizes, heights off ground, and such for my local species. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogboy Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Thanks guys. A year of searching for that one good website with actual plans for birdhouses has made me fairly well versed on hole and box sizes, heights off ground, and such for my local species. Â Â the big thing is exposure then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimW Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Thanks guys. A year of searching for that one good website with actual plans for birdhouses has made me fairly well versed on hole and box sizes, heights off ground, and such for my local species.   What species did you build those for? "I have ... put a lump of ice into an equal quantity of water ...  if a little sea salt be added to the water we shall produce a fluid sensibly colder than the ice was in the beginning, which has appeared a curious and puzzling thing to those unacquainted with the general fact."- Joseph Black Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Lippen Posted January 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 That side entrance one is for titmouse's's's... Â The other two are for house finches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Lippen Posted January 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Should I put twigs and such in them before I put them up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HatterasJack Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 squirrels, raccoons, and the neighborhood's cats can be your downfall "Gradatim Ferociter / Carpe Diem / No Guts, No Glory  "I hate taxes, and Communism, and inflation. Now, get to work, and remember that the person who makes decisions around here is ME." Ronald Reagan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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