Flicker Nesting Box

One of my children built one of these yesterday using plans he found in a birdhouse book. Sadly, when trying to find more info, we learned the front should be inclined inward to prevent starlings. My husband thinks we Could put it up on a tree and somehow have it inclined. Can you picture what I am saying? Would this be just as good? My son worked hard on it that I'd hate to disappoint him. He even painted the name we gave the Flicker on the front. "Peanut". In cursive and if she cannot read that, he printed it as well. Oh, he painted a smiley face, as well. Too funny. :)

My son is eager to put it up, hoping our female Flicker could use it for roosting at night. But we'd like to place it in a locale where she may want to nest in it in the spring. Are nesting Flickers bothered by human activity? If so, we would place it away from the house.

Another question, we do not have any wood shavings to put in the box, would the cedar shavings sold for pets (hamsters, etc) be suitable?

And lastly, we know we have Great Horned Owls in the area. We hear them at night and we've been thinking of putting up a nesting box for them. Would this not be a good idea if we put up a box for the Flicker? I saw a website that showed pictures of damage caused by Great Horneds trying to break into Martin houses. The Flicker house is wood and looks pretty sturdy. The hole diameter is 2 1/2 inches.

Thank you for any help you can give.

Chillybean, congratulation to your son for taking this initiative. I think it is neat !

Well, I'd like to think I'm experienced with Northern Flicker boxes, however ......... A few years ago, I went to a Wild Birds Unlimited store with the intent of buying an Eastern Screech Owl box. I came across this nice box that was for the Screech Owl AND the Northern Flicker. I thought great ! I have both in the woods behind my house. At $40+ it even came with wood shavings. I came home, got out my extension ladder, found a tree and located it about 12' off the ground and in good view from my house. It was inside the woods and far enough away from the house. I waited and listened patiently.

This photo needs no explanation. It speaks volumes. For the past 4 years, this is the only resident that I have had in the box. So, I wish you and your son better luck ........

This photo image has been photo-shopped. It's the same squirrel on top and in the box. I thought I might just as well get my money's worth out of this box. They sure love it !!!

Ha. what a hoot.

Chilly, I say put it up and see what happens. You can always make a hole reducer if you have problems with starlings and hope another favorable cavity nester finds it. and just find a new plan with the slant for your son to make for next year!

I totally forgot to come back to this... I got a kick out of the squirrel, Linthicum.

Here is the nesting box. We hope it's not too close to the house. I may have to forgo hanging laundry this spring and summer if the Flicker or any other nice bird nests in it. The clothes line is tied to that tree.

You gotta love a woman who builds nest boxes and still hangs clothes! Box looks good, I'm sure some cavity nester will use it. GH owls aren't cavity nesters, though. They generally use an abandoned hawk nest. I've had a pair nest down on the creek the past couple of years. Prior to that the redtails used it for a couple of years.