From late winter through spring and summer, birds need a source for nesting material and a place to build a nest, lay eggs, and raise their young. Exact nesting requirements vary from species to species. For most of North America, the breeding season starts in late January when great horned and other owls lay eggs, and it ends in August with the thistle-lined nests of American goldfinches. If you live in the warmest portions of the continent, you may have birds nesting at all times of the year. Fortunately, whenever your backyard birds begin nesting, there are some things you can do to provide a great nesting habitat for them.

First, it is important to know that nesting falls into two categories: natural–that which naturally occurs in a good bird habitat–and artificial (human supplied). Nest boxes are a popular way to create an appropriate artificial nesting habitat. However, cavity-nesting birds–which include chickadees, titmice, and bluebirds–are the only species that will use a bird nest box. Indeed, these particular birds have adapted to a nest inside an enclosed area.

Nest boxes fall into two categories: those that are good for people and those that are good for birds. If you are serious about being a good landlord to your backyard birds, ignore any bird housing that is overly decorative. A showy, attractive nest box may be pleasing to your eyes but completely wrong for the birds you mean to attract–and a conspicuous nest box may draw the attention of watchful predators. Instead, get a house that has the right dimensions (entrance hole size, interior space) for the birds in your yard.

For those birds that will not use a nest box, you can do a number of things to assist them in their nesting. For example, orioles, robins, some sparrows, and others build woven nests, and a few short pieces of yarn can be useful during nest-building time. You can offer the pieces in an onion bag or in a small basket, but keep the pieces shorter than two inches to reduce the risk of birds getting tangled in them. Additionally, most bird nests contain animal hair in them because it is soft, insulating, and easy to gather. When you groom your pet, save the hair to spread around your backyard for the birds to use.

A: Nestling Care: Try to place the nestling back in its nest if at all possible. This will be the baby bird's best chance at a normal life. If you can't find the nest or a place to put the nestling out of harm's way, you will need to get the bird to a licensed rehabilitator as soon as possible. Baby birds are unable to thermoregulate (regulate their body temperature) so they must be kept in a protected area with a heat source. A soft nest made of tissues inside a small cardboard box, placed on a heating pad set on LOW temperature, is a good example of a temporary home. A moist sponge placed in the box will add a touch of desired humidity. This will warm the bird. Try to contact a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. Your state or provincial Fish and Wildlife officers are responsible for licensing and regulating the activities of rehabilitators and have listings for all rehabbers residing in your region. Make sure anyone else giving you advice is familiar and current with the specialized needs of wildlife.

What NOT to do (no matter who tells you to):

• Insects, chopped up garden worms, etc. should not be fed to nestlings. Only the parent birds know how (and what) to feed their babies.
• Never feed a bird (or mammal) if it is suffering from hypothermia and feels cool to the touch.
• Never feed milk to any young wild creature!

Fledgling Care: If a fledgling is found hopping around on the ground, it should be left alone if it's in a safe area. It can be placed up on a tree branch or in a shrub if in a dangerous situation, but it must remain in the same area so its parents can find it.

Birds have an underdeveloped sense of smell, so handling the baby bird won't cause the parents to abandon it. Young birds often leave the nest before they are capable of flight. They spend a few pre-flight days hopping on the ground and flapping their wings. Its parents are keeping an eye on it and feeding it when necessary. During this time the fledgling is learning valuable survival lessons from its parents. Taking a young bird into captivity at this stage of its development is kidnapping! Try to avoid this if at all possible.

If placing a nestling back into its nest is impossible, or if your cat brought that fledgling home, then you will need to locate a wildlife rehabilitator to care for the bird. This is not a job for amateurs–in the past 10 - 20 years there have been many advances in wild animal care, and the field is highly professional. Your state fish and wildlife agency has a list of all licensed wildlife rehabilitators; contact them to locate a rehabber near you. Rehabbers do not charge for services, but voluntary donations are appreciated, because all expenses are out-of-pocket.

This shelf is easy to construct and will be used by barn swallows. Phoebes or robins might be attracted if you add two inches to the dimensions of each piece. Because it is so easy to build, you will not mind making two or three. Then, you can put them up in different locations, increasing your chances of having nesting families.