When deciding on the placement of the houses in the yard, keep in mind the habitat requirements of the species you wish to attract. For example, bluebirds will use houses in open fields but not deep woods, and chickadees the opposite. Consult the accompanying chart for habitat requirements before placing the houses. A general rule is to place no more than 2 houses per species per acre of property. Remember, however, that an acre of property may support several pairs of different species.
Birdhouses are safest from predators when they are mounted on poles equipped with predator guards.
A predator guard is a device placed on the pole that keeps raccoons, cats, and even snakes from climbing the pole. Pole-mounted houses will need an extra flange made of wood or metal attached to the bottom that will accept the pole. You may wish to purchase the pole first and then design or buy the appropriately sized flange and predator guard. Some birds such as nuthatches and woodpeckers prefer houses mounted on trees. The house design in the accompanying diagram includes a backboard that can be used for attachment to a tree.