214 Wild Bird Guests 



Downy woodpeckers are birds chiefly of the 

 woods and orchards and should be attracted by 

 suitable nest boxes hung from ten to twenty feet 

 high. They have been known to occupy Ber- 

 lepsch nest boxes only. 



Hairy woodpeckers are fond of quiet wood- 

 land, especially swampy woodland or woodland 

 near a stream; sometimes they nest quite close 

 to houses. Nest boxes hung from fifteen to 

 twenty-five feet above the ground will be at 

 the proper height for them. They have been 

 known to enter Berlepsch nest boxes only. 



Screech owls seem to have little fear of man, 

 and frequently nest in the orchards or in shade 

 trees near the house or on the village streets. 

 They will often occupy nest boxes hung on trees 

 or the sides of barns from eight to twenty-five 

 feet up. 



While not essential in all cases, it is best to 

 examine all nest boxes in the fall, and clean out 

 those which have been occupied either by birds 

 or by squirrels, mice, hornets, or moths. Some 

 birds will go to the trouble of cleaning out a nest 

 box, but many will refuse to use it unless it has 

 been cleaned for them. Last spring a pair of 

 bluebirds in Meriden, New Hampshire, refused 

 to build in a nest box which they had used for 

 years. Finally the owner of the box examined 



