2 of 5

Write now Article Tools

It is wonderful to bring wildlife into your garden and many of us try very hard to provide a good environment for the wild creatures which visit and , hopefully, make their homes in our yards.

However, nature has a cruel side and the fact is that predators need to make a living too. There will be a food chain, predators have young, they need to eat and many of the creatures who nest in our yards make an ideal meal.

You have to accept this if you want a real wildlife garden. However, there are ways we can protect birdhouses from them or at least make it so that the predators have to work very hard for their food.

One of the worst predators - and one which we really should discourage from bird houses because they are not part of the natural food chain- is the domestic cat.
Well fed they may be but instinct will make them want to watch, wait, pounce, play with and perhaps eat, birds.

Plan the placement of the bird house so it is high enough to make a cat think twice about climbing. On a fence is better than in a tree unless you have a lot of thin branches to put cats off climbing.

If you plan the birdhouse on the fence make it high enough so the cat cannot reach it in a leap but low enough to make it impossible for the cat to approach from above. I have watched cats balance along the narrowest of fences and pounce on bird homes from above. Their patience means they will watch for hours until a bird dares to poke its head out. Then they kill. Loss of an adult means certain death for any chicks.

Birds are most at risk while fledging so make the bird house within reach of a tree with lots of thin branches so cats and other predators cannot sit there but small birds can use them as first flight decks safely.

Other predators include rats who steal young birds and eggs, larger birds like jays and magpies who steal eggs and chicks , foxes who will take every oportunity to obtain an easy meal and squirrels who will take food from bird houses. Birds of prey will watch for flying adults and kill them too.

One method to protect your birdhouse from predators who can climb is to place a ice of wood or perspex in the shape of an upturned funnel just underneath the birdhouse as a collar. This prevents many animals from climbing or jumping up,as the shape is very difficult to get round and it is very effective.

The only animals who may get past are squirrels but they are unlikley to steal anything other then food.

A surprisingly effective method of protecting birdhouses is to sit near them. The birds quickly get used to non-threatening people around and as long as you avoid going near the bird box your presence near the house will keep predators away but the birds will carry on as usual, knowing you mean them no harm.

I have seen foxes and other animals creeping along, only to suddenly get a shock to see me sat at the table reading near the birdhouse. The birds, meantime, carry on as if nothing has happened.

Learn more about this author, Sammy Stein.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How to keep predators away from your birdhouses?
We want to hear your view. Write now!