Finally got a house finch pair to use the nesting box I set up last spring

I spent like 3 weeks debating between putting the box on the side of the garage facing east or facing south. Everyone online seemed split on direction and I was overthinking it bad. Ended up going south since that side gets morning sun but afternoon shade from the big maple tree. First clutch hatched 4 days ago and I'm honestly way too excited about it. Has anyone else dealt with birds rejecting a box just because of the placement?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor.sean2d ago

Moved mine from a north facing fence to a low branch on a dogwood tree after six months of zero interest. Within two weeks I had Carolina wrens checking it out and they ended up raising two broods that summer. Sometimes they just want it somewhere with a little more cover and natural movement around it.

harper_foster2d ago

Ngl I read somewhere wrens are super picky about having a branch above them for cover from hawks.

clairen852d ago

South facing was the right call honestly... I almost went east too but then read that morning sun can overheat the box if it gets direct light for too long in summer. @harper_foster the wren thing is real, I had a Carolina wren reject mine for a whole season because I had it too close to a feeder where the finches were always fighting. As for the branch above, that's mostly a chickadee thing not a house finch thing... finches are a little more open to semi exposed spots. Ended up moving mine just two feet over to get it under the edge of the maple and they finally took to it. Little things like that can make all the difference with these birds.