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As late winter days grow longer, birds get ready to mate and nest. And it is time to start thinking about putting up a bird house or nest shelf.

"Dozens of species of birds will use artificial nest boxes or shelves and may be enticed to set up residence in your yard," said Dan Edge, wildlife specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service.

Bird houses or nest shelves can be made of simple materials or purchased at local retailers. First, you need to decide what kind of birds you want to attract. Then make or buy a bird house suited for that species. Each type of bird prefers a different type of nesting habitat. For example:

• Robins and phoebes will not nest in enclosed next boxes. They prefer a sheltered platform or shelf.
• Wrens, bluebirds and tree swallows are most commonly attracted to single unit, enclosed bird houses. Wrens prefer nest boxes close to shrub cover, whereas bluebirds and tree swallows choose fairly open areas with few trees and shrubs and open area beyond that, such along a fencerow.

For specific information on the types of nest boxes and shelves different bird species will utilize, Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife (ODFW) offers free brochures about building houses for many species of birds. For a list of available brochures, write: ODFW Information and Education Office, P.O. Box 59, 2501 SW First Ave., Portland, OR 97201. Also, check for books on bird houses at the local public library, contact your local Audubon group or the local county office of the OSU Extension Service for more information.

No matter how simple or elaborate, the most important features are safety, the location of the house and the dimensions and shape of the house and entrance. A good bird house:

• has ventilation holes in the top and drainage holes in the bottom;
• doesn't have a perch by the entrance - perches encourage predators such as cats;
• is easy to clean - bird houses should be thoroughly cleaned once a year to remove last year's nest materials and to prevent nest parasites.

Edge recommends to keep the following in mind when you plan where to put your new bird house:

• Face the entrance hole to the north or east to prevent the birds from overheating if the summers are hot in your area.
• Put no more than one house per tree for the same species of bird.
• Don't put bird houses near bird feeders.
• Mount bird houses on metal poles rather than nailing them to trees or hanging them from limbs. Houses on metal poles are less vulnerable to predators.
• Use no more than four nest boxes per acre for any one species of small bird such as wrens or chickadees.
• Use no more than one house per acre for any one kind of larger bird such as robins.

By Carol Savonen, 541-737-3380
SOURCES: Dan Edge and John Loegering, 541-737-1953
http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/Garden/Wildlife/wildlifebirds.html

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