Part 4

Other Nuthatches

The western subspecies of the White-breasted Nuthatch occur chiefly in less settled or more restricted ranges, and they are apt to be less accustomed to, as well as less accessible for, bird houses.

The Red-breasted, Brown-headed, and other small nuthatches share the hollow-tree nesting habit common to the family. They prefer locations of the wilder kind, so that the usual bird house is not likely to entice them away from less sophisticated haunts. Yet it appears likely that any of the species might select an imitation of its natural nesting site. Build as for the White-breasted, except that the entrance should be but 1¼ inch in diameter.

The Tufted Titmouse

The Tufted Titmouse is common in the south, where its distribution is also much more uniform than in the north. In some places it has pushed far toward our northern border, but there it is inclined to be of only local and irregular occurrence. In general it becomes more and more a bird of the wilder areas as it advances northward. Usually a wood or woodside location will be the one most likely to entice this species to a bird house. When and where the bird is found to linger about residences toward the nesting season, the houses may be placed much as for the bluebird or wren, but in a very quiet corner of the yard. Dimensions are given in Table I (page 16). See also Plates II and III.

The Tree Swallow

The Tree Swallow is often a bird of the small city, but may be expected more dependably in the country or in the rural community. He is easily satisfied as to a nesting place but it is sometimes difficult or impossible for him to find a nook about our dwellings which is safe from the English Sparrow's intrusion. When nesting about inhabited buildings he cannot well afford to dispense with the vigilance of his human landlords. Small, quiet, and peace-loving, he is a particularly poor match for the pugnacious sparrow. Specifications for the Tree Swallow house are given in Table I. See also Plate III. The inner wall, between floor and entrance, must be rough or provided with cleats, in order to give the young a sure foothold. Several pairs of Tree Swallows will willingly nest near one another.

Other Swallows

For the beautiful Violet-green Swallow build exactly as for the Tree Swallow. Where, in the west, both species occur, there is the chance that a house intended for the Violet-green will be taken by the Tree Swallow. This chance, otherwise more than an even one, may be lessened by catering to the Violet-green's observed choice of local haunts. Barn Swallows will sometimes use ledges, such as those described for the Robin (page 29), when these are sheltered.

The Eastern Bluebird

Beautiful, cheerful, demure, raising two or more broods in the season, always a picture of "content in a cottage," the Bluebird is the all-round ideal tenant for the simple bird house. He is, however, not a bird of the city, nor always a bird of the village garden. The suburbs, especially the more secluded spots therein, suit him much better. He tends, and that with ample reason, to shrink from the society of English Sparrows whose rough, aggressive manners and harsh notes introduce discord into his naturally calm and peaceful existence. By all means provide a house for this peerless tenant; also be prepared to lend him all possible assistance in policing his property until the eggs are laid. Once the precious eggs are deposited, trust the prospective parents to defend their treasure; for even the Bluebird is no exception to the general rule that a brooding bird will readily put an erstwhile successful bully to speedy and inglorious flight. See Plate III and Table I for housing the Bluebird.

To provide for a second nesting and possibly a third, the procedure should be the same as that described for the House Wren. See, therefore, directions given for that species.

Other Bluebirds

The Western Bluebird fills the same role on the ranges and ranches that is taken on the smaller farms of the east by his eastern namesake. Build and place the house for the one precisely as for the other. The western bird seems much more inclined than the eastern to adopt nesting sites in or close to human dwellings.

The Mountain Bluebird will use the same type of house; its location, of course, should correspond with the local haunts of the species.

The Crested Flycatcher

There is a peculiar satisfaction in successfully providing a house for those species, such as the Crested Flycatcher, which do not ordinarily resort to artificial nesting sites. It is something of a "feather in the cap." Select a dilapidated orchard or an out-of-the-way woodside as a location for the Flycatcher's house; place the house and await the results with expectations not too sanguine. Should fortune favor you with an opportunity to watch these birds building, remember to look for the famous dried snake skin almost invariably worked into the nest by this species, not forgetting that the reason for its use is still one of the mysteries. Measurements for the Flycatcher's house will be found in Table I. See Plates Plate II and Plate III for styles of house recommended.

The Flicker

In general the woodpeckers choose to build their own houses. But as the Flicker is so unlike other woodpeckers in appearance and in certain of his well-known ways, it is not surprising to learn that he will readily take possession of an artificial bird house. Naturally, a woodpecker (and the Flicker is that) is scarcely an exception to the rule that bird-house tenants prefer something along the general lines of a woodpecker's work. A section of a hollow trunk or branch of the proper dimensions inside may easily be transformed into an ideal Flicker house. Next best is the dugout type illustrated in Plate II. Finally, the semi-cylindrical or even rectangular house will do very well if the other specifications are about those given in Table I. The country or the suburbs, not too near to a residence, is the right environment for the Flicker.

A Flicker which took possession of a house I had placed for Crested Flycatchers spent days in audibly widening the rectangular chamber until a soft bed of chips was provided to receive the eggs. The moral is--make the sides of thick, soft wood, and let even a woodpecker furnish his own bedding. However, one or two handfuls of coarse sawdust thrown into the Flicker house will be quite welcome to this bird.

The foundation, each story, and the roof are built as units of uniform lateral dimensions. This permits adding more stories as the colony grows, and allows for easy cleaning. The central air shaft and elevated roof provide cooling by air circulation. A molding attached to the under side of the roof section and to the floor of each other section holds the section in place, aided by hooks and screw eyes as shown. A, Roof and upper stories assembled. B, Interior of one story. The bottom is cut out of the central chamber for the air shaft. C, Foundation or base. Its central cross-pieces are double thicknesses of ¾-inch oak; the rest of the frame is of pine ¾ inch thick. Four heavy angle irons (as shown) attach the base to the pole. D, Interior of roof section exposed to show outlet of air shaft and the screen-covered gable-end air vents (1/8- to ¼-inch mesh screen). E, F, G, Details of porches and railings. The railings and their supporting posts are of standard hardwood dowel stock.]

The Purple Martin

This is the only desirable colony-forming bird-house tenant. Therefore the apartment type of house is a waste of material unless intended for Purple Martins and designed accordingly. Of the desirable bird-house clientele, none is quite so sophisticated as the Martins in the matter of a satisfactory location. If it is only so much as a biscuit-toss from the ground, the martin house may grace a bandstand, a village railroad station, or a busy village square. The house itself may be one of those adapted doll houses, complete with chimneys, windows, fancy doorways, and whatnots, ornate in fluted columns, bizarre in lightning rods and weathercocks, pretentious with elaborate porches and other gewgaws, and gaudy with rainbow tints. Go as far as you like, the Martin will pace you. However, for those who would consider the bird's point of view to be of greater importance than their own, appropriate suggestions are offered in Table I and in Plate IV. If painted white the house will be cooler and may be preferred by the birds. The reader should be advised that Martins are temperamental and will sometimes refuse to occupy a suitable house because of some dislike for its situation. Furthermore, Martins sometimes inexplicably abandon a locality where they have previously been abundant.

The Wood Duck and (in proper places) the Hooded Merganser and Golden-eye are the duck species for which we may provide these houses. The location should be secluded and near the water; the exact site, 10 to 20 feet up on a stub or tree. Build preferably of rough slab material. See text.]

The Tree-nesting Ducks

In suitable locations artificial sites may be provided for any of the several wild ducks which ordinarily nest in hollow trees. These ducks, as breeding species, are mostly northern, the Wood Duck being almost the only one which regularly nests, except at the higher elevations, very much south of the northern United States border. The Hooded Merganser may appropriate the house intended for the Wood Duck, and vice versa.

The location is of first importance. This should be a secluded wooded stream or body of water. The stump or tree which is to form the support for the house, and also the entrance to the house itself, should be in plain sight from the water. It may be a hundred feet from the nearest shore, but the nearer the shore the better. A lone trunk, or one of several on the edge of a wood, will do. Avoid placing the house too near the ground. Further specifications are given in Table I and Plate V.

Hawks and Owls