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Hi Jamie, We have one nest box on the North-facing side of our garage, 9-10 ft. up, and they use it most years. It has a 1 1/4" entry hole. We are going to put our new box on the N.E. side of the house, about the same height, but are aware that we may just be providing a choice for one pair of Chickadees because they are too close together. It would be nice to have 2 pr., but they need about an acre of territory each. The information we have been using comes from a pamphlet called "Nest Boxes for Birds", published by the Canadian Wildlife Service in 1977. According to it only the House Wren will use a 1" hole. Chickadees, Nuthatches & Downy Woodpeckers all need 1 1/4". If you make the hole much bigger than that, you will get House Sparrows (around here anyway). The box needs to be at least 6' above the ground on a pole or tree near shrubs. We thought of putting it on our grape arbour over the deck too, but we always get a raccoon in the spring, who loves to climb up it, so thought better of that idea! It needs to be safe from cats too. The pamphlet suggests installing a guard - an inverted cone of metal or plastic (like a squirrel guard, I guess). Takes a bit of thought. Oh yes, also it needs to be in a place where it won't get too hot, thus we put them on the North side, and paint them a reflective colour. And away from the usual direction of rain. Lois Codling Jamie Simpson wrote: > Yo Lois > > I have a small next box - 1" hole - I was going to hang perhaps for > Chickadees. Do you you have any experience i.e. what is a suitable > spot? I was thinking of my grape arbour but it's a bit exposed. > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lois Codling" > <loiscodling@hfx.eastlink.ca> > To: "Nature NS" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> > Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 6:12 PM > Subject: [NatureNS] N. Goshawk > > >> Don & I took a walk around the yard this morning to look for a good >> site for a new Chickadee house when we heard a strange sound. We >> looked up just in time to see a hawk strike a Rock Pigeon right >> before our eyes, and carry it off, feathers falling everywhere! Don >> figures it must have been a N. Goshawk by size and shape. Hawks are >> very smart and will use the distraction of humans walking around to >> their own advantage - I see it often as I'm out feeding the birds. >> >> Lois Codling >> L. Sackville >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >> Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.25/744 - Release Date: >> 4/3/2007 5:32 AM >> >> > >
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