By Jennifer Brockway

The birds are coming! Are you ready?

This week’s warm temperatures helped assure me that winter is truly coming to an end in Central Maine. The sap is flowing in the sugar bush. The mud is showing in the driveway. As of Wednesday, the red-wing blackbirds are calling in our wetland. And yesterday, my oldest child and I were equally excited to see an eastern bluebird sitting in one of our oak trees.

If you want birds nesting in your backyard this year, take time this weekend to be sure you are ready to welcome them. Even though our winter birds continue to drain the birdfeeders daily (anyone else unable to keep up with the redpolls’ demand for thistle?), time is running out to prepare for the return of bluebirds, swallows, wrens and other breeding birds. Nest boxes should be ready for occupancy by mid to late March.

Housekeeping

If you have bird nesting boxes installed on your property, now is the time to be sure they are cleaned out and ready for a new season of use. Open up each box and clean out last year’s nesting materials (or perhaps this winter’s mice!). It’s a good idea to give the box a good cleaning with a wire brush, mild detergent and water. Inspect each box for needed repairs, like protruding or missing screws, loose hinges or splinters that could harm chicks or adult birds.

Cleaning out last year’s nesting material helps support a healthy start for this year’s nestlings. Be sure to wear gloves and wash your hands when you’re done, especially if mice have used the boxes all winter. jbrockway photo

Build Your Own Boxes

Building your own nesting boxes can be an affordable and enjoyable way to improve your backyard habitat. If you are home with children, consider researching and building boxes as a remote-learning activity! NestWatch at Cornell Lab of Ornithology provides boundless information to help you attract and support nesting birds, including DIY plans for myriad species, installation advice, tips and tricks and even a blog all about nesting birds.

Find out what makes a good bird house in this infographic.

Explore which birds are in decline in our area, and learn how to build a nesting box to help them have a successful nesting season here.

Not sure what birds you may have in your yard? Check out this handy interactive tool!

Click the button to get started!

Visit NestWatch