Birdhouses
OvERVIEW
Nesting boxes for birds are a great way to invite wildlife into your schoolyard. Installing nesting boxes will help to improve your schoolyard habitat and provide opportunities for you and your students to observe a family raise its young. There are many different types of birdhouses, of different sizes and materials, each which will attract a particular species to nest inside. Some species that commonly nest in boxes are wrens, swallows, bluebirds, chickadees, and titmice. To ensure the success of your birdhouse, you should become familiar with which species are likely to nest in your area and provide the appropriate habitat or structure.
TimeFRame
The time you spend on this project will vary depending on if you choose to buy a nest box or build your own, and how regularly you choose to monitor the nest box. Timing is also quite important; in the northeast, place your birdhouse by mid to late March, well before the breeding season. Cornell’s Birdhouse Network provides excellent guide on birdhouse placement and how to be a good birdhouse monitor.
land use
Although birdhouses require little space, placement is very important. It’s best to attach nesting boxes to free-standing metal poles or PVC pipes, as predators on the ground often have difficulty climbing them. If free-standing pipes are not available on your schoolyard, birdhouses can also be mounted on fence posts or trees. To protect the tree, make sure to attach the birdhouse by wrapping a bungee cord/wire around the trunk rather than using nails.
Materials
Although other materials can be used, wood that hasn’t been treated with stains or preservatives is highly recommended. Bald-Cypress and Red Cedar are excellent choices, and although less durable, pine and plywood will also work. Other materials necessary for birdhouses include glue, nails, hinges, screws and a hammer. As mentioned above, birdhouses can also be purchased for a relatively low cost at most hardware stores.
EDUCATIONAL THEMES
Biology, ornithology, biodiversity, bird identification
Additional resources
Cornell Lab of Ornithology:
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife: