Who Wants a Louse Around the House?

If you think cleaning out birdhouses is unnecessary, consider this: a single nest box may harbor hundreds of lice, fleas, ticks, mites, chiggers, and bedbugs, all of which view the resident birds as restaurants with wings. These parasites will come through the winter quite nicely in old nesting material and be ready to chow down on the spring crop of baby birds. A heavy infestation of bloodsucking insects will kill nestlings and cause serious debilitation in adults. Even for survivors, life inside a pest-ridden nest will be a miserably itchy proposition.

People cleaning out nest boxes shouldn't worry about being bitten, since few bird parasites would bother to nibble on a human. Most are host-specific, preferring not just birds but particular avian species or families.

Cleaning birdhouses at the end of each season is the best insurance against a dangerous buildup of pests. Any material left in boxes in the fall should be removed in early spring. Pesticides shouldn't be used in nest boxes because the residue, impossible to remove completely, will harm baby birds. Scrubbing of interior surfaces with a stiff brush will get rid of attached eggs and insects. If you want to wash the boxes, use a mild, biodegradable detergent, rinse well, and let the boxes dry thoroughly before you rehang them. Then stand back and enjoy the sight of your birds starting healthy new families.