Home, Sweet Home! How to Attract Songbirds to Your Garden
For decades, people have installed nest boxes to give birds safe places to raise their young. These structures help make up for the mature trees, standing deadwood, and natural cavities that have disappeared from many neighborhoods and managed landscapes. And, of course, they also let us enjoy watching wildlife close to home. Just as a well-maintained feeder can provide extra food when natural resources are scarce, a properly designed nest box can help species affected by habitat loss. It offers chickadees, bluebirds, wrens, Tree Swallows, and other cavity-nesting birds a breeding site that might otherwise be unavailable. Nest boxes also provide wonderful opportunities for environmental education. Building one with children, choosing an appropriate location, and observing its occupants year after year can create a lasting connection with nature. The project becomes even more meaningful when children learn that different species require differe...