Homes for Birds Week

Categories:: Animal
Tags:: Awareness Environment Wildlife
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Week starting with the 2nd Monday of February
Holiday emoji:: 🐦

Homes for Birds Week takes flight every year during the second full week of February, encouraging people to build and set up nest boxes. This observance promotes biodiversity by providing vital habitats for various bird species. Get involved by learning about local bird populations, constructing a birdhouse, or supporting conservation efforts.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Hero
History
Timeline
Businesses
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate

Expected Homes for Birds Week Deals

Homes for Birds Week inspires a focus on conservation and supporting avian habitats rather than commercial deals. Look for special promotions from nature stores and garden centers offering discounts on birdhouses, feeders, and bird-friendly plants. Organizations like the National Audubon Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology often highlight donation matching programs or offer educational materials and blueprints for DIY nest boxes. Retailers like Wild Birds Unlimited and Droll Yankees may feature sales on their products, with a portion of proceeds benefiting bird conservation. We will update this page with confirmed live initiatives as February 2027 approaches, encouraging engagement with local wildlife groups.

Platform Guide for Homes for Birds Week

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #HomesForBirdsWeek. Share photos of your birdhouses, local bird sightings, or DIY nest box projects to inspire others.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #HomesForBirdsWeek. Share facts about bird conservation, advocate for local wildlife, or tweet about community building events.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #HomesForBirdsWeek. Join local birdwatching groups, share educational resources, and organize community build days for nest boxes.

Homes for Birds Week Hero

Charles Waterton

Charles Waterton (1782-1865) was a British naturalist, explorer, and conservationist, widely credited with inventing the modern bird nest box in the early 19th century. He established one of the world's first nature reserves at his estate, Walton Hall, where he experimented with various bird-friendly structures and documented his observations, significantly advancing the understanding of avian ecology and conservation practices.

History of Homes for Birds Week

Not much is known about the history of Homes for Birds Week, other than the fact that it aims to encourage people to put up nest boxes for birds.

Also known as a bird house or bird box, a nest box is a man-made enclosure constructed to provide birds with a place to nest. Its purpose is to promote and enhance biodiversity through maintaining populations of bird species in a particular area. The modern nest box was invented by Charles Waterton in the early 19th century. The intention of the British conservationist was to increase wildfowl and birdlife on his estate, Walton Hall, which he later converted into the world’s first wildfowl and nature reserve. Nest boxes are usually made of wood, built with a sloped roof, recessed floor, and an entrance hole in the front. Other materials can also be used, including concrete, ceramic, plastic, metal, or a mixture of wood and concrete, known as woodcrete. Certain birds are selective of the material used in building the nest box. For example, sparrows prefer woodcrete.

When constructing nest boxes, the size of the opening also tends to determine the type of bird that will nest in it. For instance, small birds prefer boxes with holes only large enough to allow an adult bird to pass through. It has been suggested that this behavior occurs to prevent other birds from invading the nest. Wrens and treecreepers are likely to be attracted to small boxes, while ducks and owls flock towards larger ones.

Homes for Birds Week timeline

15th Century — 16th Century

Turkey Builds Birdhouses

In Turkey, birdhouses are built for swallows and sparrows.

18th Century

Birds are Captured

‘Bird bottles’ are built to capture birds in the United States.

18th Century

Birch Bark Birdhouses

Native Americans build birdhouses using birch bark.

19th Century

Waterton Invents Nest Boxes

Charles Waterton invents the modern nest box.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Homes for Birds Week

Local hardware stores and garden centers can celebrate Homes for Birds Week by hosting workshops on building and installing nest boxes, offering discounts on materials, and providing educational handouts on local bird species. Real estate agencies could partner with local conservation groups to offer bird-friendly landscaping tips to new homeowners. Even coffee shops could feature bird-themed art or donate a portion of sales from a special ‘nest blend’ to a bird sanctuary, encouraging community engagement and awareness.

Homes for Birds Week FAQs

When is Homes for Birds Week?

In 2027, Homes for Birds Week will be observed from Monday, February 8, through Sunday, February 14. This week-long event highlights the critical role of nest boxes in promoting biodiversity and protecting various bird species.

How many bird species are in decline?

In North America alone, bird populations have seen a net loss of nearly 3 billion birds since 1970, representing a 29% decrease. This stark figure underscores the urgent need for conservation actions, including providing artificial nesting sites.

What types of birds use nest boxes?

While common backyard birds like sparrows and starlings will use nest boxes, proper design can attract more desirable native species. Providing a variety of box types and sizes can accommodate a wider range of birds, from small nuthatches to larger kestrels.

What is the best material for a birdhouse?

While wood is ideal, other materials like recycled plastic lumber can also be used, offering longevity and ease of cleaning. Avoid metal or treated wood, as they can overheat or release harmful chemicals, posing risks to the birds.

Homes for Birds Week Activities

Buy or build a nest box
Put those carpentry skills to good use by building a nest box yourself. If you can’t, go ahead and buy one. Whichever option you choose, the end result is the same.
Put up a nest box
Enhance the biodiversity in your area. Mount a nest box in your yard.
Use the hashtag
Spread awareness so others can learn about the importance of building homes for birds. Post about it on social media with the hashtag #homesforbirds or #homesforbirdsweek.

5 Important Facts About Charles Waterton

Birth
He was born at Walton Hall on June 3, 1872.
Family
He was born into a Roman Catholic, gentry family and was a descendant of Reiner de Waterton.
Education
He studied at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, England.
Religion
Waterton was a devout Roman Catholic, maintaining strong links with the Vatican in spite of the English Reformation.
Death
Waterton died on May 27, 1865, a month before his 83rd birthday.

Why We Love Homes for Birds Week

Nest boxes enhance biodiversity
Nest boxes help to preserve birdlife in our environment. It has been proven that nest boxes increase the population of birds in an area.
Birds are guardians of our environment
One might wonder what makes birds so important to the environment. It turns out that they are indispensable, as they are pollinators, control pests, and maintain the balance of the ecosystem. This underscores the need to add more nest boxes to our landscape.
Birds are serene
Birds are lovely and serene creatures. They add beauty to our environment.

Homes for Birds Week dates

Year	Date	Day
2026	February 9–15	Monday–Sunday
2027	February 8–14	Monday–Sunday
2028	February 14–20	Monday–Sunday
2029	February 12–18	Monday–Sunday
2030	February 11–17	Monday–Sunday