So, why build a bird box anyway? Apart from the obvious learning potential for the youth, there is a much better reason. There is a serious shortage of nesting places in urban locations. Around 24 different types of Canadian birds use cavities such as holes in decaying trees and stumps to nest. With the development of subdivisions and industry, many of these potential homes are being knocked down. Luckily most birds will adapt to man made nesting locations. By undertaking a building project you will be helping to preserve many natural species.
In the last part we looked at a simple design which will work well for several birds. But one size does not fit all! As you will see in the chart above, different birds require different sizes of box, and entry holes. There are several other factors to take into consideration. They are the planned location of the box, the height off the ground, what time of the year it will be used(and how often per season). With a little planning you should be able to have success with your bird box. There are many books and websites that can help you out with these questions.
Included in the chart are several birds found in the Brampton area. Before building I suggest that you do some research on which bird you will be targeting. It might be best to visit potential sites to see if you can identify the birds living in that location. From there you can pick a design. Please note that the chart was created from a number of different sources, so I have averaged the suggested sizes for simplicity. All lumber is 1" thick, and should be rough surfaced to allow the birds to hold on to it. Email me for a PDF of both the chart and the instrution page.
Here are some special notes for placement:
American Kestrel - pastures, fields, meadows, or orchards with mowed or grazed vegetation; place boxes on lone trees in fields, on trees along edges of woodlots, and on farm buildings.
Eastern Screech Owl - forests, parks, woodland clearings, forest edges, wooded stream edges, under a tree limb. entrance hole should face north. Add 2"-3" of wood shavings.
Tree Swallow - open fields near water, expansive open areas, marshes, meadows, wooded swamps; on a post in open areas near tree or fence, 30-100 feet apart. entrance hole should face east.
Black-capped Chickadee - forests, woodlots, and yards with mature hardwood trees, forest edges, meadows, area should receive 40-60% sunlight, spaced one box per 10 acres, hole should face away from prevailing wind; 1" shaving can be placed in box.
White-breasted Nuthatch - deciduous woodlands, mature forests, woodlots, near open areas, forest edges, orchards, often near water; hole should face away from prevailing wind; 1" shaving can be placed in box.
Bluebird - open field or lawn; orchards; open, rural country with scattered trees and low or sparse ground cover; entrance hole should face open field, preferring east, north, south, and then west facing directions.
Woodpeckers - add 2" wood shavings.
Please note that even though I've included the Pileated Woodpecker they are questionable for using a nesting box. Heart Lake Conservation Area does have several pairs and I have seen to the north and west of the park. Keep that in mind if you decide to place a box for them.
Finally, once its up you will need to check on it regularly (to see if all that work payed off) and clean it out in the fall for the next spring. With a little research and perseverance this kind of project will be a great success!
Yis
Bear
No comments:
Post a Comment