Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-03-24
Nesting Boxes for Birds.

More than 5000 nesting boxes or bird
houses have been put up In Massachusetts
at my recommendation during the past
ten years, but unfortunately not many of
these have been occupied by birds. Peo-
pie need instruction regarding tho sizes
Of bird.houses and when, how and where
to place them. One reason why people
In cities have not been successful 10 that
native birds which nest In boxes will not
settle In numbers where English SPAR
rows, cats and squirrels are numerous.
Nesting boxes for the smaller birds
should be made with entrances 80 small
that gray squirrels cannot get In. Spar
rows may be kept out Of the wrens' nest
ing boxes by making the entrance not
over one inch In diameter. They may be
discouraged from building In other nest
ing boxes by taking their eggs, which To-
wolves no cruelty, or by keeping the
boxes closed until the sparrows have
built elsewhere, and then opening them
about May 1, when the native birds have
mated.
The entrance holes Of the nesting
boxes should be IA inches for chicka
dees; l IL inches for bluebirds or swal-
lows aud two or more inches for martins.
Pine wood lie the best material for bird
house, as 1t is light, but strong and
durable enough. Metal or pottery may
be used if put up in the shade. The log
nesting boxes, followed out In the Euro
pean style, which are now so popular
with our people. do not seem to be quite
30 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 box for wrens may be
8 1.2x3 1-2x6; for chickadees, 3 1928 IL
x93 "a; for bluebirds, 4 1-2x4 1-2x9 IA;
for swallows, 5x5x6 1.2. The longest
dimension is always the vertical one.
These measurements are not arbitrary.
The boxes may be larger, but not much
smaller. The swallow box may have q
perch, but that is not absolutely essen
tial.
The back board should project two or
three inches below the boz, so that 1t
may DO nailed or screwed to o pole,
building or tree. The roof may be hori-
zontal or sloping toward the front, and
1t should project at least two inches over
the entrance hole, which should be near
the top. The top should be easily re-
movable, for many reasons. Gypsy
moths will harbor in nesting boxes and
lay their eggs there In July or August,
after the birds have gone. The sizes OF
tho entrance holes are most important.
II woodpeokers or squirrels attempt to
enlarge them, they may be reinforced
with tin or zinc.
Most people put up too many bird.
boxes ct first. The birds quarrel for
them, and sometimes do not nest In
them ut all. Boxes should be placed at
least 100 feet apart at flrst-2O0 feet 10
better. After the flrst. corners have set.
tied and have eggs or young, . few other
boxes may be put up. I have known
several pairs OF swallows to nest In the
same house, but this 10 very rare. New.
erthsless, In ono case, after ono pair was
settled, they allowed another pair to nest
In . box put up lower down on tho same
pole. The next article will take up nest.
Ing boxes for martins and other larger
birds.-Edward Howe Forbush.