Nesting Structures/Bird Houses

For thousands of years, waterfowl, songbirds, raptors and all other wildlife species survived and reproduced in the natural habitats of North America without human assistance. However, with the arrival of the first European settlers, those natural habitats began to change. Millions of acres of wetlands, prairie, and forest were altered for human use, leaving wildlife to survive on a small fraction of the habitat that once supported their ancestors in sky-darkening numbers.

To help wildlife populations maintain themselves under these altered conditions, wildlife biologists have developed various techniques to improve habitat and increase nest success. The use of artificial nest structures for the production of some waterfowl, songbird, and raptor species is one of these techniques.

It is important to realize that nest structures will not solve all the problems facing wildlife today. Nest structures only improve nest success for the few species that use them. The real problem facing our wildlife populations is the continued loss of their natural wetland, grassland, and woodland habitats. This trend will only be reversed by sound land stewardship practices that address wildlife habitat requirements as well as human needs.

Bird Houses/Nesting Southern Flying Squirrel Barn Owl Eastern Bluebird Krestrel Waterfowl