Hi Annette, I wish I could tell you that your decrative house would be safe for the cavity nesters, but the truth is it is not, especially one with a copper roof. It can get too hot and kill the babies. Windows and doors allow for rain to get in and get the nest wet wich encourages blow fly or other parasites. Mounting it on a post is an invitation for racoons, squirrles, mice etc. If you want a cute box, place a wood scrap painted black behind the door so no birds can get in, it wont spoil the look. If you want to host cavity nesting birds go to the sialis.org website to learn how to do it properly and safely (for the birds sake). Sadly, natural cavities are dwindling and birds will find whatever they can. Well meaning people put up these decrative boxes thinking they are also doing the birds a favor when in reality they are usually setting them up for failure.

On the other hand, if house sparrows are what you're after, then they could care less what the house looks like or what it's mounted on. But I'm guessing it's not the HOSP you want to attract....or at least I'm hoping it's not....

Thanks for the reply.
Actually the house I'm thinking about looks like it has windows and doors, but they aren't real openings. Here's an example

I'm also looking at one of the following-

I'm not too worried about raccoons or possums. We have a dog training business and most critters like that tend to stay away from here.

Any thoughts on any of these?

Annette

Annette, those kinds of houses tend to attract non-native birds. If it is to provide housing for birds, I'd do some research and check out the Cornell site on hole size and requirements for a specific species that you are trying to attract. If you just want the house for decoration, I'd plug the holes. As a bird landlord, you will want to provide housing that is safe. If something happens, you feel really bad for attracting birds first and then doing research after. I only say this as it has happened to me. I'm including the link to the Cornell site below. This page has a lot of info, but if you want to look at nest requirements, look under bird bios. Good luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell Bird House Network.

Well, those boxes are cute. Don't expect a native song bird to nest in one for long. You may get lucky and one or two may be successful, but you will attract mostly House Sparrows and Starlings, the smaller holes will bring House Wrens. They will love them and have lots of babies and soon those will be the only birds you have because they will kill your Native Song Birds off. Your choice! I know this sounds harsh. I don't mean to be. I just realy hate the fact that the manufactures of these cute houses do not give warnings or instructions on how to house cavity nesting birds safley. Many people want cute bird houses, they sell , birds suffer. Please close those boxes off.

Annette, did you decide on a house? Another thing not mentioned is that usually these cute birdhouses don't open up for easy cleaning out of the old nesting material. HOSP won't mind, but any other Native song bird will.

Hi all, I decided on the last birdhouse in my pics. I am thinking I will just seal the holes up so it will be totally decorative. My husband and I decided to put the "real" birdhouses down in our meadow. I think we will do a martin house of some sort and then some bluebird houses on the posts around the field.
I'll post some pics when we get them done.
Annette

Great idea Annette. I hope you do mean you will put those nest boxes on POLES around the field. Not only are Racoons a danger, but cats, squirrles, chipmunks, rats, mice and snakes.
Thanks for taking the advice about the decorative boxes. Please do read up on how to host the Blues and Martins safely. You will really enjoy them! :D

Annette, You will certainly be glad you did. Lisa makes a good point. You should mount them on metal poles not wood. Visit the bluebird forum here for more info. Enjoy them!

Here is a link that might be useful: bluebirding forum

Hello...

I just wanted to say that I bought a birdhouse last year called 'Country Nests'. It is very decorative and has windows and door designs on the outside etc. It is placed on the top of an arbor that has vines climbing the sides. It is a functioning birdhouse, with access to clean it out and the correct size hole for a chickadee. This spring we were delighted to see the chickadee take up residence and right now we have been seeing a couple making repeated trips back and forth to the house. So far there doesn't seem to be a problem at all. We are also planning on planting a thorny climbing rose on the arbor so that may also add to it's security. Right now, I say those chickadees have the best roost in the neighborhood. I can't imagine how great it is to be living in the middle of a Honeysuckle vine in bloom. :-)

well gee, I guess you did not visit the sialis.org website to learn what safe housing is or how predators can wipe out nestlings. Oh well we tried. I wish your Dees luck, they are one of my favorite birds.

OOPS sorry did not realize this was not the OP. Prairie, please go to the website listed above to find out why your nest is not safe.