Let’s keep the nature and ecology vibrant! How to build houses for finch and cardinal birds? Are you an avid bird watcher? Or do you have a garden? If yes, you might have had the urge to have a birdhouse. A wooden birdhouse is one of the most decorative and eco-friendly things we can put in our gardens to liven things up.
This content will focus on two beautiful birds—the Finch and the Cardinal. We will share with you what you need to know to build your customized birdhouses for them. We made these tips easy, but you can go for readymade bird houses if you find it too much work to build them yourself.
How to build houses for finch and cardinal birds on your own?
Placing a finch birdhouse is an excellent way to make your backyard feel livelier. Finches are small and colorful birds easily found in many backyards in the United States. If you want to attract these birds, you can start with building a proper finch bird house for them. This article will briefly explain what you need to consider before building the bird house.
Selecting The Right Type Of Wood
The perfect material to build a finch birdhouse is wood. Do not build the house using metal or plastic because finches prefer fine woods. Cedar, fir, cypress, redwood, and birch are good options for your consideration. Treated woods are not advisable, so buying plain and simple wood is better. You must ensure you have enough wood to build a birdhouse about six inches high and six inches long.
The Characteristics of Finches
Finches are picky birds when selecting a place to stay and nest. They do not like enclosed houses; thus, you may want to leave three sides open when you build the house.
It would be best to use wood adhesives to attach the wood. Alternatively, waterproof nails can be used for this purpose. Do not use ordinary nails because they will become rusty over time, which will be very dangerous for the finches.
If you use cypress wood to build the house, you do not need to paint or stain it. Other types of woods should be painted in a nice earth tone color. The feathers of the finches are bright, so you do not want to add extra brightness. Most of them also prefer earth tones.
After you finish building the house, you should put it above a pole so predators cannot access it. It would be best to never put it near a ledge or bush because predators can jump up and reach it.
The proper height of the pole is around eight feet to ensure safety. The pole should be made of metal and greased with petroleum jelly. It will prevent creatures from climbing it. The feeders can also be placed on this mounting pole and greased similarly. If you provide a safe and comfortable house, finches will be happy to stay and return every year.
Building a Cardinal Bird House
If you want to attract this charming bird, you should build a suitable house for them. This bird has brilliant red feathers, and it got its name because of these feathers that have the same shade as the robes of the Cardinal in the Catholic Church.
The bird is also very popular in the United States. A Major League Baseball team, St. Louis Cardinal, adopts the bird as its mascot. Furthermore, seven states have named the cardinal as their official bird.
The Suitable Location For Your Cardinal Bird House
The key is to make the bird feel comfortable. It would be best if you understood the characteristics of the bird and its natural habitat to find the right spot. The cardinals are forest-dwelling birds and thus prefer a location with many trees.
The place should also have dense vegetation so they can look for food and hide from predators. If you want to build a cardinal bird house, you must find a spot that meets these criteria. Alternatively, you can place it in a spot with a few trees with some thorny underbrush. The key to a successful Cardinal bird house is to place it in a spot where they feel comfortable.
They are happiest in a spot with not only trees they can perch on but also like to have a place with some dense vegetation where they can hide from predators and search for food. If possible, try to mount your Cardinal bird house in a spot with a few trees and thorny underbrush.
How to Attract the Bird
If the area surrounding your house has some trees that grow close together with some bushes nearby, it’s an excellent start to find some cardinals flying around. However, it does not mean that you do not need to do anything to attract them.
You should check the water condition around if you want to attract nesting cardinals. These birds like to stay near a water supply. A birdfeeder is also an excellent addition to attract them.
Things To Consider Before Placing Your Cardinal Bird House
Some people want to conveniently place the bird house near their window to watch the birds from their houses. It’s not a good thing to do, even if what you do inside the house will not disturb the birds.
The reason is that male cardinals are very aggressive during the breeding period. When they see their reflection in the window, they immediately attack because they think it’s another cardinal.
It will continue for hours and, in the end, exhaust and injure the bird. Therefore, it’s better to use binoculars to watch the activities of the birds. I hope this article on how to build houses for finch and cardinal birds was quite informative and interesting to you!
Guest Author: Tiffany Wagner
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