 | | Birdhouse back wall mounted to a shed | | Many birdhouses are built with perfect dimensions for the occupants but little consideration is given to the way they are mounted. Most birdhouses have an extended back wall that acts as a mounting mechanism, allowing you to screw the birdhouse to the final spot. This locks the birdhouse to that spot and screws must be unscrewed in order to take the birdhouse down for maintenance. This makes it difficult to maintain the birdhouse, and if the birdhouse is not cleaned out after the birds have fledged birds are less likely to nest in the birdhouse in the future. |
| There are some birdhouses available that allow you to fasten a bracket to the final spot and remove the birdhouse as necessary without a screwdriver. This makes it easy to look inside and clean out old nests. A screwdriver or drill is still required to initially mount the bracket, but once the bracket is mounted a screwdriver is not needed for regular maintenance. A mounting bracket is light and easy to hold, unlike an entire birdhouse. Not only does this make it easy to maintain one birdhouse, this is extremely beneficial when many birdhouses are required to be checked on or cleaned out throughout the season. |  | | Birdhouse mounting bracket | |
| Birdhouses can be mounted in a variety of ways. Birds will tend to choose places they are more comfortable with, so if a current birdhouse location is not receiving any residents, it may be time to find a new spot. Birdhouses should be placed at locations that limit the amount of predators and human disturbances; however, in many cases these guidelines cannot be met. The best recommendation is to mount the birdhouse in the best possible location given the restrictions in your yard. Birdhouses placed under eaves or roof overhangs will be exposed to less moisture and ultimately last longer. In addition these semi-sheltered locations can be even more advantageous if they are hard for predators to get to as well. |  | | Birdhouse under eve in semi-sheltered location | |
 | | This birdhouse is sheltered by a decorative metal roof which acts like a building eve | | Birdhouses should face away from the prevailing winds in the spring and be placed an adequate distance away from the ground. Different birds require different spacing between birdhouses. Some birds, such as wrens, are very territorial and will fill other birdhouses in the area with dummy nests. Should this happen, remove the dummy nests frequently to allow other birds to claim those un-used birdhouses. A dummy nest does not include a nesting cup for eggs, rather it is filled to capacity with large twigs preventing other birds from easily entering the birdhouse.Last but not least, birdhouses should also be a good distance from bird feeders, as the feeder attracts predators that may discourage smaller songbirds from nesting nearby. |
In order of desirability, here are 6 ways you can mount your birdhouse. Each are explained in detail below. - Metal post/pole(most desirable)
- Slippery building façade
- Brick building façade
- Wood siding
- Wooden fence post
- Tree trunk(least desirable)
Avoid hanging birdhouses. Whether the birdhouse is hanging from a tree branch or a front porch, birds favour birdhouses that do not overly sway in the wind. | | Houses mounted on metal poles are less vulnerable to predators because predators have a tough time climbing up to the birdhouse. However, metal poles should be stable and not sway in the wind once the birdhouse is attached. Birdhouses can be attached via holes in the pole, or with stainless steel hose clamps. To make it even more difficult for predators to reach the birdhouse, a raccoon baffle or a upside down pot can be installed on the pole. A slippery building façade provides the same protection as a metal pole, but it may be more difficult to install the birdhouse to the wall. Darker buildings heat up in the summer, especially if they face south or west. Avoid mounting birdhouses south or west on buildings if the siding is not a light colour. |  | | Mouting with a metal pole | |  | | Mounting on a building facade | |
 | | Mouting on a brick building | |  | | Mounting on wood siding | | Mounting birdhouses on a brick building makes it difficult for predators to reach the birdhouse. Some brick has a smooth finish, making it even more difficult for predators to get a good grip. Unfortunately, brick exposed to full sun can give off a substantial amount of heat and may be too hot. Refrain from mounting birdhouses on darker brick buildings, especially on south facing walls. Wood siding can be found on old barns or sheds and provide a more natural feel for the birds, while also making climbing difficult for predators. The surface seen in the picture below does not heat up any more than a tree would in summer months. |
| A fence post can provide some protection if it prevents predators from gaining access to the birdhouse. Birdhouses with small entrance holes (
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