on Nesting Boxes for Wild Birds. 261


very many years. We have some large boxes that have been up

for over 30 years, and are still quite sound, and have been

occupied this season.


For large birds such as Owls, Kestrels, etc., I generally

have them 15 inches square, inside measurement, with double

span roof, with fairly wide eaves over the sides and projecting

over the hole in front. The hole should be 3^in. by 4^in., be

placed in the upper part of the box, and have a ledge for the

birds to perch on, such as you see in Pigeon cotes. I have no

projecting eaves at the back, as that goes against the trunk of

the tree. Various sites are suitable, but avoid having the hole

facing into the S.W. I usually place mine from 15ft. to 25ft. up,

on a stout horizontal bough, and with the back of the box

against the trunk of the tree. When these boxes are first put

up a few handfulls of dry rotten wood are usually placed in it,

just sufficient to prevent the eggs from rolling about. This,

however, is really hardly necessary, as, with the exception of

Owls and Kestrels, all birds who use them convey nesting

materials, and any boxes put up in the autumn are almost sure

to be occupied by squirrels during the winter. Jackdaws are the

greatest enemies to nests in large boxes ; they fill them with

sticks and are every way very objectionable ; but they do not

usually take to boxes when placed in woods, or when far from

dwellings. Barn Owls in time will fill the box they occupy with

castings up to the hole, and they want clearing out every three or

four years. But boxes occupied by the Brown Owl will always be

found to be quite clean, and practically no castings in them.

Almost every box will be occupied by Stock Doves in late summer

and autumn, with the exception of those taken by Barn Owls,

who breed very late and whose young remain in the nest, often

until the end of October. A few holes bored in the bottom

assist in draining the boxes. The birds that usually resort to

large boxes are Barn and Brown Owls, Kestrels, Stock Doves,

and Jackdaws; and they are also much res;orted to in winter by

squirrels, young of which I have repeatedly found in them very

early in the year.


On one occasion I found seven young stoats in one of

these boxes, about 25 feet up in a beech tree ! The attraction of



