Putting up a birdhouse can be incredibly exciting! I still remember how it felt seeing the first one go up in my family’s yard as a child. I’d often sit by the window waiting for the first signs of feathery friends, though it definitely took a while.

For a while, I worried no birds would move into the house at all, but that fortunately wasn’t the case. It is sadly a very common problem, though, and many hopeful gardeners don’t realize what they’re doing wrong.

To help ensure your birdhouses are as appealing to birds as possible, I asked a bird expert for the most common reasons why houses remain vacant and how to make houses more attractive to garden birds. Just follow the advice from this avian expert and you’ll be waking up to cheerful tweeting in no time!

Why Are There No Birds in My Birdhouse?

It may initially make no sense. You’ve bought or built a sturdy birdhouse, it’s in a prime location, and you may have even accompanied it with a nearby bird table and bird feeders. Why wouldn’t all the neighborhood birds want to move in?

There are so many factors that go into birds choosing your birdhouse as somewhere to live above anywhere else. Think about it: you’d be picky choosing a home to purchase, considering every aspect! Birds are the same way.

According to Dr. Robert Mulvihill, lead ornithologist at The National Aviary, there are two incredibly common mistakes people make that lead to their birdhouses being ignored: not considering dimensions and not considering the environment their yard provides for birds.

He explains, “The reason why you may not be having luck attracting a bird to use a birdhouse usually has to do with one of two things: the house is not built to practical dimensions for the species – the exact diameter of the entrance hole is especially important – or it is not placed in the correct sort of habitat for the kind of bird you are trying to attract.

“As one example, you probably cannot attract a bluebird to your birdhouse unless you have a large, undisturbed open area of lawn or meadow. And if there are trees and shrubs within about 20 feet (6.1 m) of a birdhouse, bluebirds are less likely to use it, and they also are more likely to suffer intense competition for the birdhouse from other species such as wrens and house sparrows.”

If you often spend time in the yard barbecuing or playing with your dog, these disturbances are also unappealing to local birds. Though the disturbance won’t be off-putting to all birds unless they’re right in the middle of all the commotion, it’s still important to note.

The color and material of your birdhouse can also play a role in deterring birds. Birds tend to prefer natural habitats, so a house made from shiny artificial elements could scare them away.

How to Attract Birds to a Birdhouse

There are lots of ways to make your birdhouses more appealing, from hygiene to proper placement. Here’s a breakdown of top tips from Robert:

• Opt for neutral colors: It is best to put out birdhouses that are fairly natural in appearance and color. I have seen birds use birdhouses painted bright colors when nesting cavities are very scarce, but natural colors are better.
• Keep it clean: It is important to use types of birdhouses that you can conveniently open and clean out after birds have used them a couple of times. This makes the space more appealing and helps prevent diseases.
• Create a grip point: It is very important for the inside surface of the front piece of the birdhouse to not be smooth. It should be rough cut wood or wood that has gouges filed into it below the hole. This will make it easier for birds to climb in and out.
• Keep it moving: If you are having trouble attracting birds to your birdhouse after a year or two, then you might want to consider moving it to a new spot. If your birdhouse was previously near a fence, try moving it into a tall tree with some open space around it.
• Think seasonally: You can put up a birdhouse at any time of the year, but if you want it to be used this coming nesting season, then it should be put in place as soon as possible.
• Research! It’s best to do some research to see which birds live in your local area so you know how to attract those particular species.