New Homes, New Beginnings: Results of our Birdhouse Project
Wondering if our efforts with the birdhouse project have made a difference? In this blog post, you’ll find out about our first year!
Wild Out’s birdhouse project was launched in May 2023. We were thrilled to welcome our first guests a month later, and thanks to their effort, the first birdhouse was installed in June 2023. The excitement was immense. The cute little birdhouse was hanging in the tree, and we could already imagine birds jumping of joy in the nearby trees.
By the end of that first autumn, our guests had installed a total of 11 new birdhouses.
Why the birdhouse project? Addressing a Habitat Loss
In a young maintained forest like ours, there are virtually no natural nesting sites for birds. Many bird species typically nest in abandoned Woodpecker cavities. Many species of Woodpecker carve these holes in standing dead trees, but in this young forest, there are no mature or dead trees available. In fact, there isn’t a single tree that’s even reached adulthood, which for pine trees means an age of over 100 years.
This situation results from forestry practices. The forest was entirely clear-cut about 50 years ago, which left birds and many other species without vital habitat. While building birdhouses doesn’t fully address the impacts of forestry, it serves as a kind of first aid for birds in need of nesting spaces.
Anticipation and First Signs of Success
With 11 new birdhouses installed, we were eager to see if they would attract birds once the snow melted the following spring. Would the birds find the new houses we built for them, even in the first year? And if they did, would they accept them? Knowing that it can take years for birds to adopt new birdhouses, we prepared ourselves for the possibility that we might not see any nesting activity in the first or even the second year.
The first time we checked, two bird species were flying around the area. Using binoculars, we spotted a male Great Tit and a male Redstart inspecting the birdhouses, trying to choose the right one. We knew they would need more time to find mates, so we left them in peace and returned a few weeks later.
A Spring Surprise: the First Nestings
When we came back, the situation had changed. The Great Tit and the Redstart were still there, but now both had found partners, and together they were busily gathering food for their chicks! We later discovered that two more of our birdhouses were also occupied, this time by nesting Pied Flycatchers. It was amazing to see all our hard work paying off. We spent hours sitting on the moss, watching the birds and enjoying how the forest seemed to come alive.
The Need for Nesting Spaces Continues
Looking at the results of our birdhouse project, there’s clearly a strong need for suitable nesting cavities for birds in our area. Our mission is to continue installing birdhouses and expanding the project throughout the area. We’re so grateful for the guests who have joined us and contributed to helping these birds.
Helping Birds, Helping Biodiversity
By supporting bird habitation, we’re helping to preserve species and biodiversity. To build birdhouses is also to experience Finnish culture. It is a strong tradition in our country and thanks to that, Finland is a country of over a million birdhouses. Working together, we strengthen our connection with nature and build hope for the future. As you know, biodiversity is a chain of relations between different species. These relations are key to a balanced life on earth, not only for birds but also for us humans. With our actions, we can make a difference!
Track the Birdhouse Project: Explore our Birdhouse Map
Our guests can now follow the lives of their birdhouses online, thanks to our new Birdhouse Map. All birdhouses built during our day trips here in Ruka-Kuusamo are marked on the map, and we update the information of the birdhouses regularly.
Can you find the birdhouses that already had successful nesting on the map? Would you like to join us and help birds? Our calendar is now open for summer 2025 bookings so make sure you get your spot!
We hope you’re as excited about this news as we are!
biodiversity, bird habitation, Birdhouse Map, birdhouse project, birdhousemap, daytrips Finland, regenerative travel
