January 2nd

By Mutt Mulligan

Build a warm backyard birdhouse with your family

Here’s an idea for something you can do with your kids this winter: build a backyard birdhouse to help feathered friends find shelter from the cold weather!

Photo courtesy of surfbirds.com

The National Wildlife Federation recently wrote an article about how to build a cozy birdhouse for winter. We’ve included some highlights below, but you can read the full article here.

• Choose the right roost box. There are many options, depending on the type of bird you are trying to attract.
• Choose the right height for the box. Most birds feel safer, higher.
• Protect the box from predators. Mounting it on a metal pole is one idea to keep animals who hunt birds from being able to climb up to the roost.

Preparing a space in your backyard for winter bird watching is a fun family activity that can help keep your children interested in the outdoors, even when the temperatures plummet.

Have you created a backyard birdhouse you’d like to share with us on TurfMutt’s Facebook page?