206 Wild Bird Guests 



have not had a wide experience in the field. And 

 among these suggestions I will give what seem 

 to be the best heights at which to hang nest 

 boxes for different birds. I shall try to avoid 

 extremes for good reasons. For instance, I 

 have found flickers nesting within three feet of 

 the ground; that is too low for safety. I have 

 found them nesting forty or fifty feet above the 

 ground; that is too high for convenience in 

 hanging bird boxes. I suggest from eight to 

 twenty-five feet; eight is usually safe and even 

 twenty-five feet is usually convenient. 



Bluebirds, as we all know, are usually found 

 nesting in open apple orchards, along fence posts, 

 and around the houses and farm buildings. 

 Evidently then the best places to put up nest 

 boxes for them are on the apple trees, fence posts, 

 shade trees, arbors, pergolas, houses, and barns, 

 Anywhere from eight to twelve feet will be 

 found to be a good height. 



Chickadees are fond of the open woods, es- 

 pecially rather swampy woods, and in such places 

 usually nest rather close to the ground. I once 

 found a chickadee's nest, the entrance to which 

 was only one foot up the side of a poplar stump. 

 From four to eight feet up would be all right for 

 open woodland. But chickadees are also fond 

 of orchards and here they usually nest somewhat 



