3. do birds return to the same nests?

4. Should the entrance holes be different sizes for the birds that use the houses?

5. how can we keep the feral cats from getting the birds? The feeding area is right outside our family room window and they are relentless. I feel like I am setting the birds up for the cat to hunt.

6. We had a three-tier house with separate apartments inside. there were nests in all three but only l one had babies in it. Why would that be?

Thank you for all your information, especially the tick reminder. our grandchildren live next door and love the woods. With the flower work and all, six of us have had Lyme Disease and one dog has. there were a variety of symptoms from Bells Palsy to the skin rings to heart problems to hives to fever and shaking. each person had unique symptoms. Thanks again!

A: Some birds will go into birdhouses for protection in the winter but it is not an efficient shelter as only a few birds can enter the box and perch. Another option is a roosting box. This differs from a birdhouse in several ways:

•The inside has perches for multiple birds to roost.

•The opening is located lower on the box to help retain heat.

•there are no ventilation holes, again for heat retention.

Boxes should be cleaned regularly, at least once a year. The best time is after the birds finish nesting. for birds that have more than one brood per year, clean the box between broods. This attracts new birds; encourages returning birds and reduces problems with parasites. Clear the nesting material and rinse the box with a 1:10 bleach solution; rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before closing box and rehanging it.

Some birds return to the same box although it is difficult to identify particular birds from year to year.