Alabama Birds: FAQ

Putting up your own nest box is a fun and exciting way to learn more about the birds that frequent your yard. It also helps make up for the loss of natural nesting cavities.

Different species are attracted to boxes of different sizes and boxes with different opening sizes. Your local bird specialty store can provide you with information on the proper nest box for species in your area. The Sam's Guide to Enjoying Backyard Birds CD-ROM includes a list of common backyard species and the preferred box and hole sizes for each one.

Note on house sparrows and starlings:
Both house sparrows and starlings are introduced species that cause great harm to native species. They are not protected by federal law as are our native species. You should monitor your nest boxes for signs either of these species are trying to move in. Remove any nesting materials if you find these species in your nest box. You may have to remove the nesting material several times to discourage them.

Male house sparrow
European starling

Do birds occupy nest boxes when they are not breeding? Should I close my nest boxes each year.
Titmice, chickadees, woodpeckers, bluebirds, brown creepers and other species will use nest boxes in the winter as a roosting location, probably to obtain added protection from the weather. If you leave your nest box open in the summer make sure that house sparrows and starlings do not use it for nesting. If you are concerned about nesting house sparrows you can close your nest box in the summer and reopen it in cold weather for use as a roost.

My nest boxes have ants, what can I do to prevent them getting in?
If the nest box is pole mounted you can place grease (automotive) or other sticky substance (one commercial product is called tanglefoot) on the pole to prevent ants from gaining access. Sometimes changing the location of the house will do the trick. If the house is hanging use one of the ant traps that are often used for hummingbirds feeders.