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Cats
Nesting birds are extremely vulnerable to cats, as are fledglings
and birds roosting for the night. Bell collars on cats offer birds
little protection. Nailing a sheet metal guard or cone to a
tree trunk is unsightly, but may deter less agile felines. Houses
mounted on metal poles are the most difficult for predators to
reach. Avoid using grease or petroleum jelly on the pole, it can get
on the bird's feathers, and not being able to preen it off can be
fatal. The best deterrent is for owners to keep their cats inside
whenever possible.
Squirrels
Red squirrels, and sometimes gray squirrels, can become a serious
menace to bird houses and the birds themselves. If you find your
nest hole enlarged, chances are a red squirrel is the culprit. Once
inside the box, squirrels make a meal of the eggs and young. Adding
a predator guard made of sheet metal to the entrance hole is usually
enough to keep squirrels out.
Raccoons and Opossums
Raccoons and opossums will stick their arms inside nest boxes and
try to pull out the adult, young, and eggs. Adding a 1/16 inch thick
predator guard to the bird house or an inverted cone to its pole
support is a simple solution.
Snakes
Snakes play an important part in the balance of nature. If you find
one in your bird house, don't kill it. Snake-proof your house by
putting it on a metal pole with squirrel baffle.
House Sparrows and Starlings
If you don't discourage them, these two nuisance species introduced
from Europe will harass or kill cavity-nesting birds. Since house
sparrows and starlings are not protected by law, you may destroy
their nests. But remember, other birds are protected by law.
House Wrens
House wrens sometimes interfere with the nesting success of other
birds by puncturing their eggs. But, unlike the house sparrow and
starling, these birds are native to North America and are protected
by law. Don't be tempted to intervene when wrens appear at your
backyard bird house.
Insects
Many insects lay their eggs and pupate in bird houses. Inspect your
bird houses for signs of gypsy moths, blow flies, wasps, ants, gnats
and bees. Keep bees and wasps from attaching their nests by coating
the inside of the roof with bar soap. In areas where gypsy moths
abound, avoid placing boxes in oak trees, which the gypsy moths
favor.
Pyrethrum and rotenone insecticides are recommended for killing fly
larvae, bird lice and mites after birds have finished nesting for
the season.
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