For April, 1920 



149 



Nesting Boxes to Attract the Birds 



PAUL B. RIIS 



1'J" is an encouraging sign of the times to find so much 

 interest among the children to protect the native bird 



hfe. Much of this is due to courses of education given 

 in schools and much more to the efforts of the junior 

 Audubon Societies. This interest is forcibly demon- 

 strated in many spirited bird house contests, in which the 

 zeal and patience displayed in making attractive bird 

 dwellings is truly inspiring. 



In looking over a bird house exhibit, as spectator or 

 judge, the impression has ever prevailed that somehow 

 the instructors had given full rein to the fancy of the 

 individual to build according to his artistic tempera- 

 ment. I''or consequence among many practical boxes 

 there are found perfect imitations of bungalows, com- 

 plete in every detail with doors and windows, lapped 

 siding, shingled roof and a chimney intended to house a 

 family of bluebirds. Now bluebirds have been known 

 to occupy such a building successfully where nothing 

 else offered, but a smaller and simpler nesting box would 

 have proven more satisfactory and safer for the pur- 

 pose on hand. The greatest criticism centers on houses 

 too large and too deep for any purpose, with openings 

 that would with equal comfort admit a wren, a squirrel 

 or a cat. Other conspicuous designs noted represent 

 straw-covered tepees, chickadee apartment houses, trian- 

 gular and pyramidal structures for wrens, batteries of 

 pendant logs, graduated for one, two or three apart- 

 ments, Dutch windmills, covered straw huts, tin cres- 

 cents, flower pots, vinegar jugs and tin cans, plain and 

 ornamental. 



The spirit which ])rompts this lavish outlay of time 

 and material is commendable, but the same amount of 

 labor and material would produce twice as many nest- 

 ing boxes if the efforts were directed along practical 

 lines. The absence of suitable nesting sites has induced 

 many birds to accept the substitutes offered by man : a 

 fact greatly instrumental in increasing our bird popula- 

 tion. The success met with in the initial attempts 

 brought about a great demand for nesting boxes, which 

 induced business men to venture into the bird box game 

 commercially. Their products arc in evidence every- 

 where. 



The types, while ditfering considerably in design and 

 workmanship, however, are easily grouped into two 

 classes, one known as the Von Berlepsch bird box con- 

 structed from hollowed-out logs and the other as the 

 square type made of boards. The Von Berlepsch box 

 is by far the more attractive, fittin.g into its surround- 

 ings inconspicuously and naturally. E. H. Forbush, jiow- 

 cver, claims that this type has been a failure with him, 

 offering as a solution that it may prove more successful 

 in other localities where birds seem to show a preference 

 for this style. Any pattern used by the birds in a lo- 

 cality is likely to attract other birds to the same neigh- 

 borhood. Here in Rockford (Hi.), the Von Berlepsch 

 box has been found the favorite nesting box with the 

 birds. 



The needs of each species of birds lias lieen met bv 

 well studiexl. simple, practical, roomy, sanitary and safe 

 nesting boxes. The ]:)roportions of these have been 

 painstakingly worked out by authorities on bird life and 

 little or no improvement can be made except as individual 

 fancy may dictate. The Von Berlepsch box can be bought 

 so much cheaper than one could luake it that mcasiu-e- 

 ments on this type will be omitted. 



Materials for the square box type are more easily ob- 

 tained and its construction is so simple that by follow- 

 ing a few important rules any one is in a position to 

 turn out very satisfactory houses. Labor being the great- 

 est item of expense, the lumber should be selected with 

 a view to its lasting qualities. Weathered lumber is to 

 be preferred to newly planed boards and a coating of 

 jjaint well dried in. especially if ajipiied in the Fall, will 

 be no detriment. 



Lumber less than >>^-inch in thickness should not be 

 used and boards J-s-inch thick for anything larger than a 

 wren box are preferable. The board forming the back 

 of the box may project four inches above and four 

 inches below the box proper. This permits of a secure 

 and easy fastening to pole, building or tree. The roof 

 should have a slope toward the front of two inches, with 

 a ]3rojection of three inches over the front of the box. 

 By placing" the entrance hole one and one-half inches 

 below the overhang, the roof will act as shelter against 

 driving rains and also prevent cats and squirrels from 

 reaching the nest from the roof. The two sides should 

 reach to but 's-inch of the sloping roof, giving much 

 needed ventilation to stifling nestlings. The board com- 

 posing the front of the box must be considerably rough- 

 ened or grooved both inside and out to give the birds 

 a chance to climb in and out. Projecting bottom boards 

 and perches nuist be entirely omitted. They off'er foot- 

 hold to bird enemies, enabling them to annoy and drive 

 away rightful tenant. The bottom board should be per- 

 forated with gimlet holes for drainage from entering 

 rains. The entrance, carefully corresponding in size to 

 the size of the box, may be incircled with a zinc collar 

 to prevent woodpeckers and squirrels from enlarging 

 the opening. 



.\ hinged roof, fastened with a small hook, will be 

 found a great convenience. It greatly facilitates eject- 

 ing undesirable tenants, bird enemies, cleaning out old 

 nests or nest photography. A hinged roof is not de- 

 sirable where boxes are exposed to public abuse and 

 covers fastened down with screws or dummy nails 

 should be given the preference. 



The merits of the many substitutes used in place of 

 lumber, such as cigar boxes, gourds, jugs, tin cans, tar- 

 paper, flower pots, will not be discussed here. They are 

 makeshifts at the best, though they often serve their pur- 

 pose. Anything worth doing is worth doing well, and 

 greater enjoyment is commensurate with greater effort. 

 Farmers' Bulletin No. 609, "'Bird Houses and Flow to 

 Build Them," publishes a practical list of the various 

 boxes with full dimensions of house size of entrance and 

 distance to be placed from the ground. This list is so 

 complete- that it is offered here for the benefit of the 

 reader. 



Fhwr Drpth Eiifrance Diiiniotor IN'i;:Iit 



of (if .tIkivo (tt nbovo 



Species cavlt.v. cavit.v. floor, entrnnce. ground. 



Inclips. Inches. Indies. Iliclios. Feet. 



ninel.ird .1 I..v .". S liA .T lo 10 



lioliin Gb.v .« .S (11 (1) (! to 1.-, 



I'hlekinlee 4 by 4 S to 10 S Hi fl to 1.". 



Tiifled titmouse 4 b.v 4 .« to 10 .« 1 Vi « to l.'i 



Wlilte-brensted nuthatch 4 b.v 4 s lo 10 S IV, 12 to I'O 



Uouse-wreii 4 by 4 ti to S 1 to % t; to 10 



Hewiek wren ' 4 by I fi to 8 1 to 1 (! to 10 



Carolina wren 4 by 4 fl to 8 1 to 6 1 V6 to 10 



Dipper by 8 fi 1 .1 1 to :< 



^'iolet-Rreen swnliuw ri by Ti fi 1 to fl l'^ 10 to 1."i 



Free swallow ."> by "i fi 1 to « 1 '-i 10 to 1.". 



I?arii swallow 6 by fi fi (1) (1) 8 to 12 



Martin 6 by fi l 21A 1.1 to 20 



Sons Sparrow fi by fi fi (2) (2)" 1 to :f 



I louse Ilurll fi by fi t', 4 2 S to 1 2 



I'hnehe fi by fi rt <1) (\) « to 12 



Crested flycntcher C by fi S to 10 8 2 8 to 20 



