How a Birdhouse Can Change Your Perspective

When I first moved to this wonderful space on the peninsula. I was welcomed by overgrown garden. Although it is not on a scale of the Lost Garden of Heligan, it is still a formidable. Hopefully, an enjoyable task lies ahead to create a flourishing landscape to be shared harmoniously by all living creatures. One can only try.

Why you need a Birdhouse

A birdhouse is first and foremost, a place of refuge for wild birds. It is different from a bird box in that it is usually smaller and does not provide an area for a nest and hatchlings. Birds most likely to use a bird house are called cavity nesters. It is estimated that each area will have a few of these species of birds.

Birds seek protection from the climate and predators. For a garden to thrive it should put on a good show to attract pollinators which feed on insects and berries, in addition to spreading seeds through droppings. Birds such as wrens, chickadees, blue tits and tree sparrows like birdhouses.

Bird habitats are rapidly disappearing. Undoubtedly, lost to urbanisation as well as changes such as climate which affects their food chain. Protecting Pollinators is protecting plants. And because we are all connected, the human food supply is also affected.

Everyone likes birds. What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?

David Attenborough

Birdhouse Placement

Like any prime real estate location is important. Make sure your birdhouse blends into the environment. It should not be close to a feeder or a bath. The structure should also face away from winds.

Because birds just want rest not a party place, placement for privacy is important. The bird house should be off the ground and safe from predators.

Design

The best and most natural material for the birdhouse is wood. The entrance should not be too big. Feng shui entrances in the birdhouse world are snug and the cavity is deep.

Provide ventilation with slithers of space just under the roof, or in the walls, along with proper drainage at the top and bottom with small discrete holes will provide a cosy birdhouse.

Last but not least, clean the house thoroughly at lease once per year, or after each use. Any old nests or debris should be removed. In addition, a non toxic solution should be applied to remove critters which may be harmful to the birds and maintain the garden appeal.

In My Garden

Nestled in one corner of the garden, under birch and cedar saplings, is a birdhouse which leaned like the Tower of Pisa. I looked at the strong sturdy pole with its miniature frame reminiscent of a steepled church. This area was a favourite for humming birds because Poppies, Black-eyed Susan, and Lilies gave them their best display here. I could watch the happy dance from my kitchen window.

Throughout the summer the leaning birdhouse glared at me. I made a mental note to give it a bright coat of paint when I eventually got around to straightening it.

As the seasons passed, I worked in the garden: planting, cleaning, and weeding, everything except deal with the leaning birdhouse. I had noticed that the base was concrete so imagined that it would be heavy to set straight. In fact I hypnotised myself, finding so many reasons to ignore the birdhouse, work around it, and continue to make up very creative stories regarding the difficulty of moving it.

In the winter, I made a mental note to straighten the birdhouse pole in the spring, after all it was probably set in concrete. Before I knew it, another winter had dumped enough snow to enter a knee high boot with each step. While venturing out in such conditions near the birdhouse, I noticed that the back of the birdhouse pole was not round like the front. The pole was a semi circle, not the heavy full size I had thought it to be.

Effortless Action

There was nothing left to do. I gave it a soft push and it was straight. How simple it was. Had I attained the Taoist state of Wu Wei or “effortless action”? This was a true lesson in not getting in your own way. We often put imaginary obstacles in our way and make excuses not to do things. Once we let go of the negative chatter and make an attempt, we are often pleasantly surprised with a positive result.

Nature allows us to refocus in a rich energetic environment. All we have to do is to be ready to receive.