BUILDING BIRD HOUSES* 



By Ned Dearborn, 

 Assistant Biologist United States Biological Survey 



THE birds which adapt themselves to living in bird houses, and the dimensions 

 to be observed in constructing these houses are given in the following table. 

 These dimensions should be carefully observed in erecting the houses. 

 Birds may be gathered about us in all seasons of the year with ease and 

 certainty merely by offering what they desire. In winter they are often pushed for 

 food, and if we supply this need they will report daily at the lunch counter and help 



Dimensions of nestings boxes for various species of birds. 



Species. 



Entrance I Diameter Height 

 above i of I above 

 floor. entrance, ground. 



Bluebird 



Robin 



Chicadee 



Tufted titmouse 



White-breasted nuthatch . . 



House wren 



Bewick wren 



Carolina wren 



Dipper 



Violet-green swallow 



Tree swallow 



Barn swallow 



Martin 



Song sparrow 



House finch 



Phoebe 



Crested flycatcher 



Flicker 



Red-headed woodpecker . . . 

 Golden-fronted woodpecker 



Hairy woodpecker 



Downy woodpecker 



Screech owl 



Sparrow hawk 



Saw- whet owl 



Bam owl 



Wood duck 



Inches. 



i') 



to 

 to 

 to 



to 

 to 



{') 

 {') 



6 

 6 

 6 

 1 

 6 

 6 



Inches. 



IK 

 H 

 1 



IH 



3 



13^ 



Feet. 



5 to 10 



6 to 15 

 6 to 15 

 6 to 15 



12 to 20 



6 to 10 



6 to 10 



6 to 10 



1 to 3 



10 to 15 



10 to 15 



8 to 12 



15 to 20 



1 to 3 



8 to 12 



8 to 12 



8 to 20 



6 to 20 



12 to 20 



12 to 20 



12 to 20 



6 to 20 



10 to 30 



10 to 30 



12 to 20 



12 to 18 



4 to 20 



^ One or more sides open. 



All sides open. 



to relieve the tedium of our indoor life. In summer the}^ care less for food pro- 

 vided b}^ their human friends, and other means must be sought to attract them 

 about the home. They appreciate fresh water for bathing and drinking. A 

 shallow pool of varying depth, if only a foot across, becomes on hot days a center 

 of attraction for all the birds in the vicinity, and it may be made with little effort 

 and material; only a small amount of cement is required, or, if that be lacking, a 

 pan with stones in it set in the ground will be equally serviceable. Trees, shrubs, 

 and vines bearing fruit relished by birds are great attractions in their season. 



Birds are desirable about premises not only on account of their beauty and song, 

 but because of their economic worth. They are especially useful as insect destroyers 

 during the breeding period, when they have to work early and late to obtain 

 sufficient food for their nestlings, and their movements at this time are more 



660 



