What a Bird Wants
When a bird is trying to find a birdhouse, he is looking less for the nautical birdhouse, though we want these for aesthetic purposes, but for the same things we look for in a home, protection. It is essential for the bird that the house will keep it, and it’s family, safe from predators as well as give easy access to food and water. Keep in mind the types of common predators the birds need protection from.
Birds have many different predators, even in a safe backyard. Dogs may get young birds during nesting season, and cats are always a threat. Squirrels may try to eat the eggs; protective sheet metal will help prevent this. Other wild animals, such as snakes and raccoons, are also threats. To cut down on the possibility of predator attacks, mount your birdhouse to a metal pole instead of to a tree or hanging from a branch.
