Bird Lovers as Landlords 205 



Other types of nest boxes are rarely occupied 

 by woodpeckers other than flickers, but a little 

 sawdust will do no harm in any nest box, and 

 in case of driving rain may help the drainage. 

 An inch or two is enough for bluebird or tree 

 swallow boxes, but the deep boxes intended for 

 flickers should be half filled, at least. If there 

 is more than the flickers care for, they will 

 quickly throw it out. 



You are now ready to hang up the nest boxes 

 and in most instances you will need a ladder for 

 this. Where a number of boxes are to be put up, 

 a wheelbarrow will be found a great convenience. 

 Of course the work will progress much more 

 rapidly if two persons are engaged — one to 

 mount the ladder — the other to hand him the 

 nest boxes and tell him when they hang true. 



The Best Places to Hang Nest Boxes 



Other things being equal the greatest success 

 with nest boxes will be had by those who give 

 heed to the preferences which different kinds of 

 birds show in selecting sites for their homes. It 

 would hardly be possible to give rules so com- 

 plete as to cover all the preferences shown by 

 birds likely to occupy nest boxes, but the follow- 

 ing suggestions will be found useful by those who 



