Five Misbeliefs About Birdhouses

A misbelief is an erroneous story or claim that can influence someone into thinking that something is true, when it is not. Modern misbeliefs are often easily accepted as facts because they are simple and concern familiar topics. As with any story, they can be fun and interesting to read anyway. Stories can also be fun just to find out what's true, and what's not true.

There are 5 common misbeliefs that concern birdhouses...

1. Birds will abandon a birdhouse if they smell humans hands on their babies - False. Most birds species have a poor sense of smell and generally will not abandon their young based on human scent. It's true that all birds have the sensory ability to perceive odors (contrary to beliefs years ago), but whether birds depend on it to effectively smell humans, or detect danger, is still debatable.
   
   Scientists have traditionally thought of birds as lacking the ability to use their nostrils (called nares, located at the base of their beak) for detecting aroma. All birds can detect aromas to varying degrees, but they will not abandon their nests if they smell the scent of humans hands on their young. The same is true for eggs, it will not cause parent-birds to abandon them if they smell your hands.
   Even bird species that rely heavily on their sense of smell for survival will not abandon their young because of human odor. The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) is worth citing in this case, as it has one of the most sensitive noses in the animal kingdom. Experts estimate that it can detect the scent of rotting flesh in concentrations as tiny as a few parts per billion in the air.
   The majority of birds in the world have very good eye-sight and hearing. They have eyes that are prone to seeing the differences of shades and colors with keen perception in resolution. Generally, most birds rely more on eyesight and hearing to survive, not smell.
2. Birdhouses with perches attract predators - False. Perches are generally thought to be an undesirable feature because they might make it easier for predators to climb up and hold on to the perch, helping them to enter the birdhouse. This might be true in some cases, but most predators, such as cats, raccoons, and snakes are successful in their attempts to catch their prey anyway, and a perch would make little difference.
   As far as predator birds, a perch would not prevent them from effectively landing on the front wall of a birdhouse. Birds can easily hold on with their sharp claws, regardless of a perch.
   On birdhouses with larger entrance holes, this is a concern. As far as raccoons, snakes, squirrels and other animals, these types of animals are not prevalent in most backyards anyway. So should you worry about them? Maybe. If a perch is in the right location below the entrance, a perch would probably not be a safety concern. Most entrance holes range from about 1-2" inches in diameter, and that is too small for most predators, like cats raccoons and squirrels. A snake would be an exception.
   The biggest worry is a typical house cat because these types of animals are common in every neighborhood. They are agile and can easily perform a vertical standing-jump of 5' feet. So a pole-mounted birdhouse should be placed over 5' feet above the ground. Other types of cats you might occasionally see are savannahs and maine coons, which have the ability to jump up to 8' feet! Cats are also good with their arms and paws, and can reach through a small entrance to reach all the way down to the floor. They use their sharp claws to effectively grab the young birds. A perch probably would not make the task easier, or harder for them.
   
   A bobcat has a vertical standing jump of 12' feet!
   
   So is it something to worry about? Maybe,. you make the decision. There is no conclusive evidence that show birdhouses with perches have a higher fledgling fatality rate. Most predators are able to enter into a birdhouse with or without a perch with little problems.
   
   Yes, particular birds do prefer bird structures without a perch. But for predators, they really don't care. As a bird-enthusiast, you make the decision. It mostly depends on your local habitat. Birdhouses with an entrance hole of 1 1/8" or less are small enough to exclude the heads of most predatory animals. Side-by-side experiments have been conducted with traditional birdhouses to find out if predation is a problem, and if birds prefer a perch. In multiple observations, it was found that when two of the same style birdhouses (but one with, and one without a perch) were compared, wrens and chickadees always pick a birdhouse with a perch. And no young were lost due to predators.
3. Birdhouses raise property values - False. Birdhouses do not increase the value of any kind of property Birdhouses & Property Values »
4. It's not good to check a birdhouse - False. Occasional viewing of the baby birds is ok. Birds are survivalists, and just like other animals, have a strong sense of protection for their young. The simple act of a human opening the roof, side door, or looking through the entrance to look inside will not drive away a motherbird and cause her not to return.
5. Decorative birdhouses are only for decoration - False. Some decorative birdhouses are considered functional and will attract birds. Often you will see decorative birdhouses that have enough functionality to qualify as a possible home for a motherbird. Functional aspects to consider are adequate ventilation, proper entrance and floor dimensions, viewing doors, and wood types. However, there are decorative birdhouses with designs that have absolutely no functional appeal, and instead, are painted with bright graphics and adorned with lots of extras. The construction is often compromised with cheap materials. These types of structures make nice gifts for holidays and special occasions, but do not qualify for a safe place for a parent-bird to raise young. Read more »

Bluebird Misbeliefs - the bluebird trail..

The steep decline of bluebirds in the early 20th Century was caused by many reasons. Indeed, there were significant efforts made by humans to bring back bluebird populations, including the creation of bluebird trails. In lieu of their success, no evidence has shown that the general population of bluebirds were brought back specifically because of bluebird boxes mounted along designated trails. The decline may have ended otherwise, so left alone, bluebirds might have come back on their own anyway. However, there is little doubt that bluebird trails may have helped.

Next,. "Birdhouses & The Environment"»