Winter Birdhouses
Provide extra support for NZ birds over winter with a
winter birdhouse.
We often get asked what's the best way to support NZ birds in winter, other than providing a bird feeder. Well it's actually really easy - simply turn your birdhouse into a warm winter bird shelter.
As the days get colder, our feathered garden friends have to work extra hard to survive. Whilst we don’t get snow in most parts of New Zealand, the temperatures drop and birds need to find ways to stay warm whilst roosting (resting and sleeping). Some also need to find new safe roosting locations as their summer locations lose their leaves and become more visible and easier to penetrate by predators.
While birdhouses are mostly associated nesting and raising chicks in spring time, they can also become a lovely warm roosting box for sleeping or sheltering during the harsher months. So as summer turns to autumn, why not turn your birdhouse into a cosy winter shelter for the NZ birds you kohabit with?
How to create a cozy winter birdhouse:
Give your Birdhouse a clean after spring. Any birds that have nested in your birdhouse will leave behind unwanted nests and debris from raising their young. Like us, birds want a clean and tidy place to sleep.
Kohab Birdhouses have been designed for easy cleaning, with a slide-out bottom. We recommend you use a 5% disinfectant solution and give the house a good scrub inside and out followed by a thorough rinse. Always wear gloves when handling birdhouses and wash them outside. Birds can carry infections that can be dangerous to humans so good hand hygiene is essential.
Reduce drafts. Cover over the bottom ventilation holes, this will reduce drafts that bring down the temperature. It’s easy to do, simply put a piece of wood over them. Don’t use tape as this can be harmful to birds if they eat it.
Check the prevailing wind. Make sure your birdhouse isn’t facing into the wind. Wind coming into the opening will reduce the internal temperature.
Add some extra warmth. Sprinkle in some wood chips or straw to help insulate the birdhouse and make it toasty warm.
Choose a location that is away from predators. Every creature in the ecosystem is under pressure during winter, so predators are on the lookout for sleeping birds and an easy snack. You may need to reassess the location of your summer birdhouse - is it safe from predators and suitable for winter?
It’s always a good time to put up a birdhouse.
Remember, birds are always on the lookout for a place to nest in spring, and birdhouses used for roosting are more likely to be used for nesting in spring. So if you don’t have a birdhouse already, then adding one during winter is a really good idea.
Buying a birdhouse?
If you live in New Zealand are are looking at buying a birdhouse then take a look at kohab.nz
Kohab Birdhouses have been specially designed to give safe, warm shelter to a range of regular visitors to NZ gardens. They are different from other birdhouses you can buy in NZ because:
They are made for the birds in your New Zealand garden that will use a nesting box
They are made from marine grade plywood and will last and last for generations of birdlife to come
Marine Plywood is safe, unlike Tantalised wood that some birdhouses are made of that are harmful to bird health and the environment
They have thick 12mm walls and roof to keep birds and their chicks warms
They are watertight to keep bird families dry
They have good floor ventilation to keep moisture levels low
The nails and mounting screws are made of stainless steel so won’t rust
They come flat packed to reduce packaging and shipping costs, yet only take a few minutes to put together (see the instruction sheet here)
Plus they are proudly NZ made.
Thanks for reading our blog, for more tips and tricks on supporting the birds you kohabit with check out some of our other articles at Kohab Life. Or take a look at our website for some great product ideas.
