bird houses for winter roosting

This is actually a question. I have this bird bottle on the house. In the summer a pair of carolina wrens built a nest in it but then changed their minds as my son is tall enough that he could see in it as he walked on the walkway to his car. Not that he ever did as he is only interested in computers and stuff but I guess seeing his head so close gave them the willies lol. Anyway, all of a sudden now that it is cold here (20's at night) there is a carolina wren making its "I'm mad" grating sound whenever I am around this bird bottle. I am wondering if it is using this as a night time roost. Have any of you noticed if your birds are using any of your houses at night? Its not the kind of thing that is easy to notice I guess.



This message was edited Nov 11, 2007 3:45 PM

I'll keep my eyes out lily.

I know my sisters Gourd House gets used this time of year and in very early Spring by the Carolina Wrens.

I have many houses that the birds roost in at night. I generally clean out the houses in the Fall. Lately I've noticed several birds building again in the houses. At first I thought they were crazy and building nests again since we've had just a warm Fall, but now I think they are just bringing in materials to keep themselves warm in the winter.

Sad story - one time so many birds huddled together in one of my birdhouses one night that one was stuck half in/half out of the entrance hole - there were so many birds inside it didn't fit. It actually froze to death during the night and I had to remove it in the morning so the other birds could get out.

Oh that is sad!

I've got a question... This past spring, I put out a suet cage filled with quilt batting and yarn ends (I'm a crocheter). Why did they not touch it? I can't feed them, is that why there really isn't many around. I think there are some sparrows that roost or nest in the eaves of our building that I hear chirping all summer.

That is a sad story Goldfinch4... Maybe I'll crochet little blankets, sweaters and booties for them this winter. :)

I have a downy woodpecker that roosts overnight in a chickadee box (she made the hole bigger). I bought a roosting box for chickadees, but I haven't seen them use it yet. I also remember seeing a picture in National Geographic years ago with many bluebirds crammed into a box to keep warm, so they must do that also on occasion.

Susan in Minneapolis

Susan,
Bluebirds are known to all cram into a nesting box to roost during cold weather but chickadees are solitary roosters. Studies have been done that even on the coldest nights of the year(minus 40 degrees in Alaska in one study) they seek out holes in birch trees and such and shiver the night away. I leave my wren houses out all winter but I too have never seen a chickadee use one for roosting.
Jimbo

This message was edited Nov 14, 2007 9:17 PM

Those Chickadees are tough little birds. They are so adorable to watch yet so strong. I also wondered where they go in the winter, especially in the late winter when there are ice storms.

What interesting stories! Oh goldfinch, that is so sad about your frozen bird.

I didn't know that about chickadees either jws.

I have noticed that there are certain trees on my property that birds like to roost in too. One of the big favorites is a big pine tree that is getting scragglier and scragglier every year. We should probably cut it down because it is so awful looking now but the birds just love it.

Shan, how cute. I can just see them in their little blankets, sweaters and booties!

Last year I built a special roosting box for the birds but they seem to prefer to roost in the birdhouses. Maybe because the wood was too new last year - not weathered yet. Maybe this winter they'll try it.

I noticed that some birds must have been using my bluebird house to roost in. There were feathers sort of lining the ventilation slots near the roof. Not enough to stop the cold air from coming in, I'm sure. But that is what we guessed they were doing. Is there anything I can do to help the birdies other than leaving my birdhouse out for the winter and putting out food? I was thinking about getting a birdbath heater to keep a water source going for them.

Besides feeding and providing roosting houses providing water is welcomed by the birds. I have a birdbath with a plastic top that has a heating element built right in and it keeps the bath ice-free all winter. The birds use it all the time and even bathe in the coldest weather. I got it at a Wild Birds Unlimited store.
Jimbo

Shan, Instead of putting the short pieces of things in a suet cage put them here and there in bushes, trees etc. I did that w/ cat hair last year and it worked out great!

I didn't have any success with the Roosting Pockets last winter,

Anyone else have success w/ them?

This message was edited Nov 21, 2007 5:39 PM

Every once in a great while a bird will go in them, but I don't think they provide enough protection from the elements to do much good.

Has anyone made or bought the roosting boxes that have the entrance hole near the bottom instead of near the top?

I have one with perches inside; it was my understanding that it was intended for chickadees, but the entrance hole was large enough so House Sparrows started to build a nest in there. But I read on this forum that chickadees don't use roosting boxes, so... I put a chickadee sized cover over the hole, and now it seems that no one is using it. Maybe the location matters; I will try to move it next winter.

Has anyone else had success with these? I got it from a bird store run by a very helpful and knowledgeable guy, so I wonder about the chance of getting occupants.

Susan in Minneapolis

Susan in Minneapolis,
A chickadee might use the roosting box but only one. They are not communal roosters. I'd leave it up but yes, downsize the entrance hole. And like homes everywhere--location is everything.

I made a roosting box with the entry hole on the bottom and perches inside. It was used but it's not in a location I can easily see, so I'm not sure how much. Birds also nested in mine in the summer.

I found these nifty bird houses in one of my super markets early this past summer. I forgot about them until this past weekend when I found them in the garage. They're made of back pack material and come flat in a package. You zip it together like a suitcase and there are wires that hold it out like a pouch. You tie the houses around the tree trunk with stretchy string provided. I put four of them up near the feeders to see if they might be used as roosting pouches.

They come in wren and bluebird sizes. The two pictures posted are both wren size. They come in blue and brown. I do have a bluebird one also but I don't have a picture yet. They are very inexpensive too!

Oh my gosh thats wild! I've never seen anything like that before.

Thanks for posting them Lily!

Is there a brand name?

Hi sybil - unfortunately I took them out of the packaging they came in right after I bought them. I just didn't get around to putting them up until now. The label is long gone but I will see if I can find something about them on the net. I haven't seen them since I bought them at that supermarket either. *rats!*

I have all 4 of them up now Pell. I have seen a few birds checking them out. I wonder if they will be selected this spring for nesting in. I have quite a house selection up now. Anyone who isn't a birder would probably think "tacky" lol.

LOL, Oh well just another chapter to the "Crazy Lady" thing right Lily?

Speaking of checking out a nest site, I recently saw two Juncos checking out an old robin's nest built on the pipe of a downspout. (This is a spot that robins really like. Each year they build a nest and sit on eggs, and then House sparrows come by and punch holes in the eggs, or kill the babies. For a while, the House sparrows take over the nest, but don't actually use it.) House sparrows quickly ended the Juncos' investigation, but I wonder whether they were considering it for roosting, or what they were thinking. I don't think that the Juncos spend the breeding season here, and I certainly wouldn't consider it a protected spot for roosting, since it is open on three sides. Any thoughts on what they were doing? Picking up some how-to tips?

Susan in Minneapolis

That is really interesting Susan. We one time had a dove nest on top of the drainspout on the eave of our house too. I couldn't help thinking that was a terrible choice lol!. No cover from predators and all that water gushing perilously close to the babies during a rain storm. My hubby discoverred the nest while cleaning the gutters. When he got to the drainspout he yelled down "there's a big clog here!... OMG there's an animal in here!" As soon as he yelled that the dove flew off the nest and he saw it was a nest with babies in it. So he left them alone and scurried down the ladder. The moma came back and all was well. Speaking of your nest though, I have noticed that nests can be awfully buggy things. Do you think the juncos might have been looking for a meal? I'm not even sure if they eat insects though.

I put up a nesting shelf for robins and other birds that prefer open nests. I actually got a "taker" for a brief time this past spring. Better luck next year ha ha.

(yes Pell - one more notch on the "crazy lady belt" for the large and varied bird house collection dotting my yard!)

here is my nesting shelf taker...

Lilyfantn,

Since our temps have been down to about 10 degrees F., I am sure any insects left in the nest were long dead. And I think they are basically seed eaters, so looking for a meal doesn't seem likely.

Just FYI, this robin's nest is not built in the gutter, but rather below it on the mostly horizontal part of the downspout.

Susan

Thanks for the info Pelle. Whenever I dogsit I try to brush the dogs outside and spread the fur around the yard, too.

Those bird roosts are cool Lily... I going to look around for them here.

Shan~

If I find them again I will be sure to post the info!

I have noticed that one of our carolina wrens has been hanging around one of the bird houses in the front. I'm wondering if this is the same wren who used it this past summer and is perhaps staking out his or her claim for next summer? A couple oof times a day this wren spends time on top of the house. I'll have to notice if I see "anyone" going into the house in the evening.

That is a nice shot of the wren!

I love the Carolina Wrens! Thanks for sharing the pic Lily!

Marilyn

I bought 8 roosting pockets (6 from Gardeners Supply and 2 locally from Petsmart). Don't know if there are any takers, just wanted to help the birds during the cold days and nights. This is the first time I've ever bought and used them.

Marilyn

The idea of roosting pockets is new to me BUT you got me thinking. I have a bunch of hanging basket liners out in the shed. I put a couple of them out with seed for the chickadees. It occurs to me that the liners could be hung on their own - just nailed to a post and would provide some protection. I could add seeds too. Hmmm...morning project. I'll get back with pics! (If it works)

Marilyn have you tried snuggling some of those nesting pockets into some evergreens?

Might have some luck w/ that. :-)

Another good idea!

The liners on their own are just too floppy so I lined a plastic milk crate with them and stuck it on the fence. See what happens.

Pelle,

Yes, I have 6 in our tall Blue Spruce and the others in our Redbud.

Marilyn

Here is the experimental shelter for birds. The snow has just started to fall. Not likely to see much activity today.

Not to discourage anyone or not saying it couldn't happen but I think those "roosting pockets" are someones marketing ploy kind of like butterfly houses. Has anyone ever seen a butterfly go into one of those things? I don't want to sound negative but I don't think birds would use one for roosting. I think in Spring the House sparrows or House wrens might use them for nesting but in the winter I don't think they'll appeal to birds. I hope I'm wrong. Next someone is going to come up with a Cardinal nesting house. Painted bright red.
Jim

Jim - I think we just like the idea. My expectations are zip! :)