

Place target nest boxes in areas where unwanted species are unlikely to nest.Consider installing separate boxes placed for species like House Sparrows well away from the target nest box.
#Wren house plans install

The students at Sunrise Elementary in Bullhead City, AZ hung nest boxes in their yard, providing water sources and food for their desert birds so they would be more comfortable using the birdhouses. Be sure you know your avian neighbors and what they need to be successful breeders. NestWatchhas a great resource for determining the right house for the right bird. After all, everything from a bluebird to an Osprey can use a nest box and nest platform! So when building or buying your box, be sure you know what diameter your entry hole should be and how much space is inside to make it perfect for your target species. Nest boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the species that uses them.

First things first: what species do you want to attract? To get you thinking about how you might use nest boxes, here are some helpful tips as well as ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ for installing, watching, and maintaining a nest box. Building and caring for a nest box can be a very rewarding experience and a great project-based learning opportunity for students of all ages. When used correctly, nest boxes can be a huge help to many birds looking for a home. Many species of owls, wrens, bluebirds, chickadees, American Kestrels, Purple Martins, and many more will use nest boxes because they mimic cavity nests they would find in the wild. The species that use next boxes and platforms are diverse. For many species, nest boxes are the perfect space. This time of year, many migrants are beginning to return and seek out a safe space to lay their eggs. Spring is the perfect time to install nest boxes for the breeding season.
