Here’s what actually works.

Sometimes birds decide to build a home in a spot thats inconvenient for youor dangerous for them.

Replacing or covering those entry points will prevent them from using the building structures.

Female of Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) and her chicks in nest built on top of the column of a house porch.

Photo:Orietta Gaspari/Getty Images

Putting native plants and fresh water in close proximity to your birdhouse will help the birds flourish.

And do your best to ensure any domestic cats cant get access to your nesting alternatives.

)Heres a diagramfor what birds can fit into different-sized entry holes.

The gulls decapitated all of the owl decoys and used the heads to build their nests, Perlut says.

Birds are intelligent creatures.

The good news is: so are you.