Birdhouse History

History of the Birdhouse Birdhouses have been part of western culture for hundreds of years in both North America and Europe. Over the centuries baskets and clay pottery were used as the initial birdhouses in Europe while birch bark was used in North America. The first use of man-made birdhouses in history was around the 15th - 16th century. in Turkey, birdhouses were built for sparrows and swallows during the pre-Ottoman period. They were made of bricks, tiles, wood, stone and mortar but those made of wood have since deteriorated. Birdhouses in Turkey were often built into the façade of the building and complemented the architecture surrounding it.
Native American Origins Birch bark was the main material used by native americans along the east coast when English immigrants arrived in the 18th century. The purpose of these birdhouses was to shelter the birds from harsh weather and increase the number of birds in the area.
European Origins While we normally think of birdhouses as a way to protect nature and increase the amount of birds in our area, that wasn't always the case. Birdhouses in some places in Europe were used initially as a trap to capture eggs and even birds. These birdhouses were typically made of clay and were built like a vase; however, in most cases birdhouses have been used to protect wild birds from harsh weather and predators as well as provide a location to live.
Nesting Cavity Why do birds use birdhouses in general? Birds are looking for nesting cavities in which to build their nest. Song birds that use tree cavities aren't capable of creating their own nesting cavities because their beaks are specialized for hunting insects or gathering seeds. In an undisturbed ecosystem songbirds such as wrens, chickadees and nuthatches look for tree cavities created by other birds such as woodpeckers.
Why do birds use Tree Cavities?

Tree cavities made by woodpeckers Birdhouse history the first birdhouses ancient past birdhouse old beginning initial squash bird shelter Tree cavity hole nesting cavity natural bird shelter secondary cavity dweller where birds make nests heartwood rot woodpeckers

Tree cavities provide shelter for birds from predators. There are two kinds of nesting cavity birds; those that create their own nesting cavities (primary cavity nesters) and those that use pre-existing cavities (secondary cavity nesters). Insects or pathogens have also been found to assist in formation of cavities that are used by cavity-nesters.

The amount of forested land in North America has greatly decreased over the last 200 years. Many trees that have nesting cavities are not structurally sound, and are cut down in urban environments to prevent damage to property. As a result, there is a shortage of suitable nesting sites for both primary and secondary cavity nesters.

Finding a birdhouse designed specifically for the favoured bird is key to success. Bird species prefer different nesting conditions, whether it's the size of the entrance hole or the height the birdhouse is placed off the ground.

History of the Birdhouse

Native American Origins

European Origins

Nesting Cavity

Why do birds use Tree Cavities?