Protecting Birdhouses from Predators by Harriett Allen

Bird houses can become easy targets for predators if not placed properly, and birdhouses may be in danger no mater where they are placed from some predators. Some predators to worry about are Blue Jays, Starlings, Grackles, Opossums, Red Squirrels, cats, and Raccoons.

Blue Jays and Starlings will run off the birds you would like to nest in your boxes, and if they can peck the entrance hole out large enough, they will take over the nesting boxes. Squirrels will chew on the wood at the entrance to enlarge the opening enough to gain entry. Cats and Raccoons will sit on top of the bird house and reach in for what they want.

Protecting against Predators

The ideal way to protect birdhouses from predators is to not put the nesting boxes where predators can get to them. This is impossible in some locations, but there are some things that can be done to keep predators away.

Don't place nesting boxes in trees or hang from limbs.
Mount bird houses on metal poles
Use Predator Guards
Place birdhouses in open areas or at the edge of tree lines.
Predator Guards

There are several different predator guards that can be used and function in different ways. Many of these can be made with materials around the house.

If you are mounting the nesting box on a wood post, you can wrap the post with sheet metal under the birdhouse. This will offer a no grip policy that will keep the cats, squirrels, and raccoons away. You can also place a sheet metal conical collar under the birdhouse, and around the pole. This baffle will keep these same pests from reaching the bird house.

Mount birdhouses on a slick metal pole 5 or 6 feet up from the ground in an open area.

Use a predator guard on the entrance of the birdhouse to prevent unwanted birds from pecking the opening out large enough they can enter, also to deter squirrels from chewing on the wood entrance. This can be done by adding another piece of wood to make it to much work for unwanted birds and squirrels. You can also cut out a piece of sheet metal to the entrance size you would like and place over the entrance. The unwanted birds and squirrels wont peck or chew the sheet metal.

If you have more tips, please comment.

Woodwork for Wildlife

The Importance of Garden Decor By Denny Soinski

Transform Your Life

Gardens and their ornaments are symbols of enchantment, of mystery, of meaning, and of ultimate being. Another way of looking at this is to see that gardens and garden accents provide the power to transform one’s mood and one’s life. To be sure, garden accessories can become symbolic reminders of life’s blessings as they encourage people to enrich their surroundings by transcending the mundane.

The Gardening Imagination

Garden ornaments help people take an active stance in their lives by enabling them to create a niche in the world that is in concert with their values and their dreams. Indeed, it is this “gardening imagination” that provides people with the opportunity to select meaningful objects that speak to their senses, to their experiences, and to their lives.

An Invitation to Add Garden Decor to your Life

Websites that sell garden decor can be viewed as invitations for people to experiment and let their imaginations run free so that they can, with conscious effort or with playfulness, select the accents that they like—decor that speaks to their dreams and to their soul. With this in mind, look at the different products that are sold and select garden accessories that help elicit childhood fantasies. Examine the different garden accents and choose ornaments that speak to your inner self.

Let Your Personality Shine Through

Garden decor helps calm the spirit, soothe the soul, and delight the senses. By letting your individuality shine through as you select your decorative accents, you will transform your garden into one of the most meaningful experiences in your life. The challenge is to capture moments of wonder, joy, and inspiration and experience the lasting pleasures of beauty and the splendors of nature by decorating your garden in a way that is congruent with your noblest thoughts, feelings, and aspirations.

Your Garden Sanctuary

Strive to decorate your garden with ornaments that magically call you to return to your garden sanctuary. Look at different garden products and decide on decorations that motivate you to tap into your playfulness or into your artistic bent as you contemplate how you will decorate your garden. In a word, you can add richness, depth, and a sense of discovery to your garden with different garden ornaments.

Summary

In conclusion, garden decor is significant because it is an invitation for people to open themselves to the magic, to the wonder, to the meaning, and to the pleasure that gardens and garden related accessories can bring to their lives.

About the Author:
Denny Soinski is the owner of the highly successful company Water Fountains and Garden Decor. Dennys website http://www.water-fountains-and-garden-decor.com features garden decor accents including water fountains vases birdhouses lanterns sculptures plant stands birdfeeders lighthouses wall plaques planters and windchimes.