When our winter weather breaks, this will prompt small cavity-nesting birds to begin their search for the perfect nesting site. These will include chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, tree and violet-green swallows, wrens and flickers.

Fewer than 15% of North American birds breed in cavities. Only cavity-nesters have the strong feet, innate curiosity, and fearlessness required to poke around in dark and potentially dangerous holes. With the harvesting of dead trees for firewood or to remove trees killed by the bark beetle natural cavities and woodpecker holes are often in short supply. We do these birds a favor by providing a few nest boxes before the nesting season begins. During bad weather these nest boxes also provide a shelter for these birds to stay protected.

The actual design and appearance of the nest box is unimportant. All that is needed is protection from the elements and predators. Exterior plywood or cedar are best for long lasting houses. Scrap lumber will work, but make sure to use material at least 3/4” thick to provide insulation from heat and cold. Use rust proof screws or nails, but remember screws will make the box last longer. Nest boxes do not need to be painted but if you want to paint them use earth tones or colors that will not absorb heat. DO NOT paint the inside, since this would expose the eggs and nestlings to hazardous chemicals.

Make sure the box is vented both top and bottom. Do not use a perching rod since this may allow predators to intrude on the nest box. Keep the entrance hole high, within two inches of the top to make it more difficult for predators. If you mount the box on a pole a baffle may be needed to protect from predators also. All nest boxes should be in place by March 1. You may want to add a 3” X 3” block drilled with the same hole size and add it over the first entry hole. This will add extra depth for a longer predator reach. There are other attachments to keep predators out of the box. If you don’t want to use nails or screws in trees then use plastic coated electric wire, #12, to strap around the tree. When placing nest boxes, choose a place that is shaded from the afternoon sun and position them so the prevailing wind is not blowing into the opening. Some birds do not want other birds close to their nest so make sure you do not put your nest boxes to close together that the birds will feel uncomfortable and find somewhere else to build their nest.

Clean out the box periodically. You can clean out the box immediately after the little ones have fledged this will increase the likelihood that the same box will be used several times each year. But remember, in nature no one cleans out their nesting cavities and most likely if they use the box they will use it a second or third time and do the cleaning themselves.

By providing nest boxes, you will encourage the birds that visit in winter to stay. They will bring more birds into your year. When you put up nest boxes don’t forget to provide water and food. Also hang nesting materials, close to the boxes to entice the birds to your habitat. Nesting materials can be a lot of things such as dryer lint, dog hair, etc. Put these items in a mesh bag like an onion bag or laundry sock bag and hang it near the box. You can also put strips of cloth in the bag to be used by other birds such as robins when they build their nests. Robins will build an open nest but are fun to watch if you have them build in a tree near you.

NEST BOX SPECIFICATIONS