Inviting Nesting Birds

See how people all over the United States and Canada are encouraging birds to nest safely on their property this year.

British Columbia. The plants in the hanging basket survived the mild winter and this is where a Dark-eyed Junco built her nest and laid 4 eggs. There are now 4 live naked hatchlings being fed by the junco. Photo by Ann Cotter.
New Hampshire. There is a downed log and brush pile which can be used for nesting. Photo by Monica Brandau.
Massachusetts. We had a family of bluebirds visit late last summer and hang out on the utility wire above our front yard. This year, knowing they seemed interested in this area, we put up this box and were rewarded when this couple built their nest in it! Photo by Beth Brown.
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Missouri. This bluebird nesting box is housing 5 baby bluebirds right now! Photo by Theresa Enderle.
Texas. I added a screech owl box. There are now 6 owlets in it.
Washington. I have filled the space below these salal and pyracantha shrubs with “dead hedge” material. The birds love hiding out in there! Photo by Katherine Wimble Fox.
Washington. A large White Pine died on my property, so I asked my arborist to make it safe to leave as a snag. It is anchored to the limb of a nearby tree to be sure it won’t fall on any structures. Photo by Katherine Wimble Fox.
South Carolina. I provide nest boxes and other resources. Everything is at the base of woods for protection. Photo by Maryann Rowe.
Washington. A chestnut-sided chickadee collects untreated dog fur from a repurposed bird feeder for nest building.
Texas. Spot the next boxes! Our new network of nest boxes is paired with an ongoing transformation to native plantings, so cavity‑nesting birds can raise young where the surrounding trees, shrubs, and perennials supply natural insects, seeds, and shelter. The owl box is already hosting eastern screech‑owls, while the platform box is aimed at an Eastern Phoebe that began frequenting our front yard the bluebird house targets a bluebird pair that had been eyeing the owl box, and the remaining two boxes are sized for Carolina Wrens and Carolina Chickadees that have visited our feeders for years. Photo by Pery Doan
New York. I have a nesting pair of Carolina Wrens and House Wrens that use the birdhouses to raise their young. It’s fun to watch them choose which one they like best and then listen for the chicks eagerly cheeping when the parents bring back food. Photo by Patricia Zamperlin.
Pennsylvania. These 5 evergreens invite various birds shelter and nesting areas in the branches. Under the evergreens are bare spots where I collect the various sized sticks or small branches and dried leaves that the birds and other wildlife use for nests.
Quebec. Still feels wintery here! We set up a brand new feeder and a birdbath in January, that chickadees, American goldfinches, pine siskins and redpolls are already enjoying, hoping to see some of us nest in our backgarden. Photo by Lamontagne.
Pennyslvania. This is the front of my 1/4 acre lot. It includes both foreign and native plants: a Serbian spruce, a dwarf blue spruce, a dwarf black pine, a barberry (berries),a dwarf Japanese maple, a white birch, a river birch, a hawthorne (berries), two dogwoods(berries), two redbuds, and a serviceberry(berries). The birds love the grouping of evergreens (and so do the rabbits). Every year there’s a lot of nesting going on. What doesn’t show in the picture are five nest boxes. Photo by Kathie Gifford.
Maryland. A Bluebird Box for returning 2nd year nesters. Unfortunately the BB’s are battling it out with aggressive House Sparrows. Photo by Ronda Martinez.
California. I am replacing a former swimming pool with a native meadow and trees and bird-friendly shrubs including valley oaks, coffeeberry, serviceberry, ceanothus.
Montana. This Western Screech-Owl nest box invites resident screech owls to nest on our property and gives them a cavity in an area where cavities are sparse. Photo by Dottie Herring
Connecticut. Crook in Cherry Tree. Photo by Robin Chapin.
nest box with baffle for predator
Rhode Island. Three are “regulation” Bluebird boxes that I made per VA Bluebird Society. Photo by Kathy Fell.
nest box with cage at entrance.
Rhode Island. Happy to report that yesterday was warm enough to set up 6 bird houses for nesting season. Photo by Kathy Fell.
Virginia. Carolina Chickadees, Eastern Bluebirds and even a Red-bellied Woodpecker were checking the box so I added a second one. Photo by JoAnn Dalley.
Two freshly made nest boxes
Vermont. Two birdhouses that I built and bought to put up in my bird garden. Photo by William Custer.
Oregon. We cut down a non native tree to a snag and added chickadee holes. Photo by Jan Jamieson.
Michigan. We have a downed tree/snag at the back of our property that we are leaving for wildlife.
South Carolina. I provide nest boxes and other resources. Everything is at the base of woods for protection. Photo by Maryann Rowe.
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