Many bird species use birdhouses in the winter for shelter and protection from harsh weather. Blue Jays, Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Wrens seek refuge in birdhouses. Providing them can offer vital winter roosting spaces, helping birds survive the cold. Observing birdhouses during winter can provide insights into breeding factors and contribute to breeding research. Participating in citizen science projects can help identify habitat preferences and develop better conservation strategies.
Winter shelter is essential for birds to survive harsh conditions and maintain their body temperature. During winter, birds change their diets to adapt to the scarcity of certain food sources. They become scarce, prompting birds to scavenge for seeds, nuts, and berries, visit backyard feeders more frequently, and join mixed-species flocks to improve foraging success. Providing suitable shelter and sustenance can encourage birds to use birdhouses in winter.
Cavity Nesters and Birdhouse Use
Cavity nesters are the most common kind of bird that will use your birdhouse as a winter getaway. The small hole of a birdhouse is perfect for them. Here’s a short list of cavity nesters:
- Woodpeckers
- Nuthatches
- Chickadees
Birdhouses not only cater to cavity nesters but also provide a safe retreat for non-migratory birds, protecting them from predators. However, birds don’t use birdhouses in winter due to bad timing, lack of cleanliness, inappropriate placement, and wrong configuration. Therefore, it’s important to leave birdhouses up during later fall or early winter and to maintain them properly. Additionally, providing fresh water and special birdseed enhances birds’ chances of surviving tough winters.
Wood is the preferred material for functional birdhouses, with pine, cedar, redwood, or cypress being the best choices. Suitability depends on the bird you want to attract, climate, and preferences. Blue jays may use birdhouses depending on size, location, type of blue jay, and availability of other sites.
Birdhouse Maintenance and Provisioning
It’s crucial to regularly clean out your birdhouse to keep it safe for birds. Once a year, after the nesting season ends, remove the old nesting material and scrub the house clean. You can also help birds survive winter by providing food and unfrozen water nearby. A heated birdbath will allow them to stay hydrated, while special seeds, suet, fruit, and nuts will give birds the nutrients they need.
With suitable birdhouses, food, and water, you can encourage birds to use your backyard all winter long. The bird species that use shelters in summer tend to use them year-round. So install birdhouses to give cavity nesters a place to weather the cold months.