The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-03-21
NESTING BOXES FOR BIRDS
Some Pertinent Directions BY ed.
ward n. Forbush

ward n. forbuSh
More than 10000 nesting boxes or
bird-houses, have been put up in
Massachusetts at my recommends.
tion during the past ten years, but
unfortunately many of these have
not been occupied by birds. People
need instruction regarding the sizes
of bird-houses and when, how and
where to place them. One reason
why people in cities have not been
successful is that native birds which
nest in boxes will not settle in num-
bers where English sparrows. cats
and squirrels are numerous
Nesting boxes for the smaller
birds should not be made with en-
frances so small that gray squirrels
cannot get in. Sparrows may be
kept out of the wrens' nesting boxes
by making the entrance not over enc
inch in diameter They may be dis
couraged from building in other nest
ing boxes by taking their eggs, which
involves no cruelty, or by keeping
the boxes closed until the sparrows
have built elsewhere, and then open
ing them about May 1, when the ma
tive birds have mated.
The entrance holes OF the nesting
boxes should be IL inches for chick
adees; IL inches for bluebirds or
swallows and 2 or more inches for
martins. Pine wood is the best ma
terial for bird-house as it Is light
but strong and durable enough. Met
al or pottery may be used If put up
in the shade. The log nesting boxes.
followed out In the European style
which are now so popular with our
people, do not seem to be quite so
popular with native birds as are the
old-fashioned square-built nesting
boxes, which may be very easily and
cheaply made. We must allow The
birds to be judges of what they
want The inside measurements of
a box for wrens may be 31s x3k x6
for chickadees 3ls xSh x9A; for
bIueblrds, AZ x4k x9l4; for swal-
lows 5x5x61s. The longest dimen
sion is always the vertical one.
These measurements are not arbi-
trary The boxes may be larger, but
not much smaller. The swallow box
may have a porch, but that is not alb
solutely essential.
The back board should project two
or three inches below the box so ths~
il may be nailed or screwed to a
pole, building, or tree. The roof
may be horizontal or sloping toward
the front, and it should project at
least two inches over the entrance
hole which should be near the top.
The top should be easily removable,
for many reasons. Gypsy moths will
harbor In nesting boxes and lay theii
eggs there in July or August after
the birds have gone. The sizes OF
the en;rance-holes are most import
ant. II woodpeckers or squirrels at
tempt to enlarge them they may be
reinforced with tin or zinc.
Most people put up too many bird
boxes at first. The birds quarrel for
them and sometimes do not nest in
them At all. Boxes should be placed
at least 100 feet apart at first. 200
feet is better. After the first com
ers have settled and have eggs or
young a few other boxes may be put
up. have known several pairs Of
swallows to nest in the same house
but this is very rare. Nevertheless /
in one case. after one pair was vel
settled they allowed another pair &c
nest in a box put up. lower down. on
the same pole. The next article win
take up nesting boxes for martins /
and other larger blrds.
Efrnri II rnrhnsh i