Boxes for Birds That Provide No Nesting Material 8i 



second box was placed in a similar position, not far away. The Flickers then 

 took possession of that, but were dislodged by fox-squirrels before they had 

 fairly settled in their new position. 



In the meantime, the Bluebirds were again nesting in the old rabbit-trap 

 on the pole. To insure their not being disturbed, I put a piece of tin over the 

 entrance, with a hole just large enough for Bluebird convenience. As soon 

 as they seemed to be well settled at housekeeping, I removed the box to another 

 location nearby. The Bluebirds did not seem to mind the house-moving in 

 the least, and, as soon as I felt sure that they were suited with the new order 

 of things, I placed another box, fitted especially for Woodpeckers, on top of 

 the pole and awaited results. The Flickers, which had been dispossessed from 

 two other boxes, now took possession 

 of this one. I did not attempt to 

 look into the box for some time, fear- 

 ing that they might be frightened 

 away. I felt confident, however, that 

 they meant to stay, for the returning 

 Red-heads tried very hard to get 

 possession of the box, but were driven 

 away. The Red -heads were not 

 easily discouraged, and seemed to 

 feel that they had a prior right to 

 the location, from having discovered 

 it the year before. As the Flickers 

 held possession, the Red-heads con- 

 tented themselves with a home in the 

 top of a basswood tree near-by. 



On May 24, feeling secure in the 

 thought that incubation must now 

 be in progress, I secured a long ladder 

 and investigated. In the box were seven eggs, which have since hatched. 



The photograph of the young Sparrow-Hawks shows the interior of the 

 box, with a portion of the back board taken away. 



Now, as to my method of making boxes to attract birds that supply no 

 nesting materials. In the first place, use only weatherbeaten boards. While 

 birds like the Martin do not object to the paint, I feel sure that some time 

 will elapse before Woodpeckers can be induced to occupy painted houses. 

 The boxes I have made are of six- and eight-inch lumber, the shape being well 

 shown in the pictures. Those made of four six-inch boards seem to be large 

 enough for any of the Woodpeckers. The eight-inch boxes are better for 

 Sparrow Hawks and Screech Owls. The boxes are about two and a half feet 

 long, with sLx to twelve inches of cork chips in the bottom. Sawdust would 

 likely do as well, but the cork in which grapes are packed can be bought at 



FLICKER AT NEST-BOX 



