Homes for birds in north-east streets (5)
I believe the answer is:
nests
'homes for birds' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'north-east streets' is the wordplay.
'north east' becomes 'ne'.
'streets' becomes 'sts' (st is an abbreviation for street).
'ne'+'sts'='NESTS'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for nests that I've seen before include "Tables made to fit closely together" , "Sets of small tables that fit closely together" , "Settles comfortably into, as birds do" , "Birds' homes" , "Bird structures" .)