Houses for the birds

Seasonal snowbirds aren’t the only ones flocking to the East End for the summer. Millions of migratory songbirds have already flown into the area for the season.

By now, many of these birds have furnished man-made birdhouses across Long Island and some hatchlings are already beginning to spread their wings. While these lucky few have nestled in for the warm months to come, there are not enough habitats for many species of songbirds to nest and raise their young.

Songbird populations on the whole are in danger because areas they naturally call home, namely trees, are decreasing in both North and South America, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Without trees, birds fall prey to the elements and predators.

But help may be as close as a backyard. When people put out birdhouses, songbirds can find new safe havens that provide steadfast shelter away from cats and other predators such as crows and jays, which often go after eggs or young birds.

Birdhouses also provide hours of endless entertainment for amateur and seasoned ornithologists alike. They can be a source of pleasure for collectors and hobbyists as well.

Jeanna Carr has been providing numerous man-made bird havens at her Westhampton Beach home for the past three decades. She said her love of nature was instilled during her early years, while still living in her native homeland of Hungary, which is now Croatia. Ms. Carr noted her childhood home was filled with bucolic settings where wildlife abounded.

“Sometimes I enjoy animals more than people,” the former Manhattan fashion designer chuckled. “Birds and animals are so unconditional with you. Just a little bit of kindness, and you have everything.”

Ms. Carr has more than 50 eclectic birdhouses and various wildlife feeders around her home. A row of 30 or so birdhouses is nailed high across the front of her house in order to 
make them inaccessible to predators, including Ms. Carr’s own beloved felines.

The only downside for Ms. Carr’s bird homes in the sky is that the birdhouses need to be periodically replaced or fixed, which means a high climb on a ladder. According to the National Audubon Society, birdhouses and bird feeders should be kept as clean as possible to avoid birds contracting various types of pests, such as mites, which can be deadly to nestlings.

But Ms. Carr noted the effort to keep up her birdhouses is a labor of love. “I intend to add more,” she said. “Some of the birds even stay there through winter. I’m home at four o’clock every day to make sure they’re fed, and they look forward to seeing me as much as I do them.”

According to Chris Connolly, who sells birdhouses from his family-run shop, Aspatuck Gardens in Westhampton Beach, choosing the right birdhouse is mostly about individual style. But he noted that certain types of birds are as picky as humans when it comes to selecting their dream homes.

“A birdhouse is something that’s a very personal decision in terms of your home’s décor, or what’s of interest to you,” Mr. Connolly said. “Some people like the whimsical ones, others like the rustic types, it’s really about what fits your personality and tastes.”

Mr. Connolly went on the discuss bird preferences in selecting their homes. “The opening of a birdhouse, we’ve learned, is certainly indicative of what type of birds are going to use it,” he said. “Some birds are communal and like to live in houses with other birds, so a single and a multiple dwelling house are the main points between regular birdhouses and the specialty birdhouses.”

He reported that birdhouses at Aspatuck Gardens range from $25 for simple single family homes to as much as $500 for large bird condos. A variety of styles and shapes are also available at the shop.

At hardware stores and merchandise outlets, small birdhouses can start around the $5 range. There’s also a plethora of basic information about birdhouses at birdhouses101.com, a national website devoted strictly to birdhouses.

The site not only offers types of birdhouses and colors that attract certain birds, but also gives a listing of the top 50 species of North American birds that will normally nest in birdhouses. Other bird-related facts—such as detailed information on nesting, migrating, mating and eating habits—are also provided at the site.

“Having the right type of feed is important along with the right type of house to bring certain birds into your yard,” Mr. Connolly noted. “That being said, we have birdhouses here at the store, but we don’t feed the birds because we don’t have time to. But they still seem to love the shelter.”