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How to Keep Pest Birds Out of Birdhouses
- 1). Board up the entrance of your birdhouse until you see the birds you like hanging around your yard. Then open the birdhouse early in the morning so the birds can find their way in.
- 2). Choose your seed wisely. Food is almost always the number one attraction to a yard for a bird. The types of seeds you put out will determine the types of visitors you have. Avoid using millet and peanuts to keep sparrows and starlings out of your yard.
- 3). Block off natural nesting areas. In order to keep pest species out, block any natural nesting areas such as shelves and gutters until your desired species arrive. If a pest bird nests anywhere in your yard, they are likely to chase off all other birds in the area.
- 4). Build your birdhouse for your desired species. Different species seek out different types of nesting sites. Consider the depth of the cavity, height above ground, diameter of entrance and total volume. For example, bluebirds nest 5 to 10 feet above ground, while tree swallows nest 10 to 15 feet above ground.
- 5). Clean out nests of unwanted pests. If a pest bird does nest in your birdhouse, clean out their eggs and nest to make room for someone new.
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