March 2004 Newsletter

He who plants a garden finds happiness - Chinese proverb Feature of the Month Bird Psychology In spring, birds seek out nesting spots to raise their young. If you are trying to attract a certain bird to your backyard paradise, you need to know a little bird psychology. Territorial Rules You increase your chances of getting your favorite bird if you put up lots of bird houses. That's because most cavity-nesting birds are territorial. Once you have a crested flycatcher in residence, this flycatcher is going to prevent other crested flycatchers from moving in nearby. The reason for this is their need to guard a sufficient area to find flying insects for its young. So while you may have a flycatcher residing in one of your bird houses, you can attract a bluebird to another home because bluebirds get their insects primarily from the ground, and is, thereby, not competing with the flycatcher. A flycatcher will allow a bluebird to occupy a nearby bird home. A chicadee will allow a tufted titmouse to nest nearby but not another chicadee. Of course, there are exceptions to this territorial rule. Purple martins and house sparrows have no problems sharing their space with birds of their own kind. Placement and Size And, as many of us already know, where you put your nest box or bird house, the size of entry hole and depth of the box can also be important. It is easier to choose a house when trying to attract a certain small bird than large simply because a large hole will invite a wider range of species. A small hole will limit the choice to only small birds and, therefore, increase your odds in getting the bird you want to nest. For instance, a bluebird needs a hole at least 1-1/2 inches, while a tufted titmouse can enter a 1-1/4" hole and chickadees will make do with a 1-1/8" hole. Follow this link to learn more about the size of house certain birds prefer: Birdhouse Dimensions Spring is the time to install new nest boxes. Click here to view the different options we offer Bird Houses Be sure to view the Open Nesting Boxes offered by Tao & Ko for Robins, Flycatchers, Phoebes, Doves and Barn Swallows - who will not nest in other birdhouses. Visit us on line at: GardenArtisans.com