If you're thinking about setting up a successful nesting box, consider the following facts...
- Most birds prefer a nest with wood (for example, pine or cedar)
- Thick walls are necessary for insulation to keep the nest warm
- Small holes for ventilation
- Smaller entrance hole that is big enough for the mother bird to enter, but small enough to keep larger birds out
- A thick roof is great for keeping out rainwater, especially if the roof is slanted
- Some sort of latch so you can keep the nest clean and monitored
- Be sure to not include a stick or small platform outside of the hole because this allows predators to get close enough to grab the baby birds
- Some birds prefer houses higher in elevation or lower in elevation, so be sure to do research on birds in your area
- Different species of birds prefer different nesting materials
- A location near a food source is great, usually birds eat nuts, grain, fruit, seeds, etc. (It depends on the type of bird so do your research!)