Roosting Boxes

My husband built a roosting box as a Christmas present for me; I found some generic plans on the internet and gave them to him to build. I'm not even sure what type of birds this box is meant to attract. In any case, for those of you with roosting boxes, did you find that it took very long for the birds to discover it? Did you do anything special to get them to use it?

Mine is hanging about 10 feet off the ground, South-facing, on a mature Oak tree within view of my bird feeders and a bird bath. Is there anything else that I should do? (It is made of pine and is not treated with any paint or stain)

What is the size of the hole?

Are you in a position to share the link to the generic plans you found on the Internet so we can all get a peek at your gift?

I knew someone was going to ask those questions! I'll try to dig them up for you. thanks

Here it is: http://birds.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_make_a_winter_roosting_box

Bare in mind, I've been gardening to attract birds for a few years, but have only been feeding and maintaining a bird bath for a couple years. I'm learning as I go...

Hi wrightie. You got me. I don't have any roosting boxes over here. I have been planting Thuja occidentalis as well as other conifers on the property to provide areas to shelter our birds from inclement weather. Around Christmas time we sometimes appropriate a few trees that people drag out to the curb to give them a second life here. We pile up a few spent Christmas trees about 15' from the bird feeders. That's about all I do for the birds other than provide them with water. I stick a de-icing wand right into the bird bath. I'd love to know if any birds use your gift.

You might want to d-mail a member named stelco. He might have suggestions for you.

I just snapped this picture of the finished product.

I've never used a roosting box, or known anyone who did. I'm sure that it takes a while for any birds to get used to it and use it. You would have to watch it in early mornings and late evenings to know if it's being used. If it is going to be converted to the Flicker box in the spring I have a couple of hints that might help. Make the opening obround - sort of oval - from top to bottom. Maintain the 2 1/2" width, but make it about four inches high. This is what a natural Flicker cavity entrance looks like. If you can't find the piece of rotting wood that they tell you to fill it with try to find untreated sawdust and pack it tight with that. It serves the same purpose, it's easier and there are no parasites to deal with

Thanks, Stelco. I've been wanting to watch the box for signs of life as you mentioned, but of course I've got it placed in the most inconvenient spot in my yard for viewing. I'm really glad that you mentioned the sawdust idea; I have a horse, so I can just use the saw dust stall bedding to pack the roosting box.

Your husband did a real nice job. I am sort of excited to see if you get any birds in that. That would be so cool if you did. You would share photos wouldn't you?

We use rubber matting in the stalls topped with hard wood shavings. I have specific instructions for hardwood shavings to cut the dust and no cedar and pine but that's just me. If you are going to use wood shavings, you might want to steer clear of using any cedar for a roosting box.

Mark's idea to stretch out the opening sounds great.

I most certainly will share photos if I manage to get any, but the box is positioned so that my neighbors will have a much better view of it than we will. Fingers are crossed though.

I know the owner of a wood mill, so I'm lucky to have access to kiln-dried hardwood shavings; nice and fluffy for the stalls. We use stall matts as well. Unfortunately, this has not been good enough to prevent my horse from getting a hock sore that does not want to heal.

I can't help you there. My vets are on my auto dial at home and their numbers are saved to all of our phones. I feel for you though. Did you know we have an equine forum here somewhere?

Hi Wrightie- Your husband did a great job on the roosting box. Love the photo of the Blue Jay! I too, have been gardening for birds. Pulled out the old (non blooming) forsythia and planted Itea virginiana. Would like to know about other shrubs that provide food for birds.

Funny - my husband complained about the design and is unhappy with the finished product, so I will pass the compliments on to him (but he won't believe it!).

Greenkat, I'm still learning about shrubs myself; I've focused a wee bit too much on perennials, I think. I do have beauty berry, chindo viburnum, holly, blueberry, and a few others though.

wrightie, I think the roosting box your husband made is incredibly thoughtful and I think he did a really nice job. I've made nest boxes before with a group of Cub Scouts and it isn't as easy as it looks.

Oops, maybe you might want to start a new thread on fruiting shrubs so this one stays roosting boxes. I usually love it when threads stray but totally understand why some members don't.

Sorry wrightie.

Someone start a new thread! Start a new thread!

{:>)

You first ;)

Why don't both of you chickens do it together? LOL

We're waiting for you dear. We need a fearless leader (me, I'm the fearless weeder) and you've been lurking way too much lately. Come out! Come out! Come out and play!

Bock-Bock!

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/691876/

Sorry, couldn't resist the one sentence reply over there. Tee he. I figure somebody will come along to give me a ration for that sooner or later.

I thought it was fantastic.

Yup, I already got my ration too!

LOL. I have to lurk. It's winter time and the only plants growing here are freebies from work and regualr houseplants. I just lurk and learn. LOL

We converted the box from roosting to nesting last weekend. There were no visible signs that it was ever used for roosting, but fingers are crossed for the future.

Here is an ethical question for you: When we pulled the face board off to change it, we noticed the very beginnings of a nest being built inside. Don't ask me what type of nest it was because I'm clueless on those things. However, I would assume that it was from a HOSP because I've noticed them sitting on it recently. I did not feel comfortable trashing the nest, so I did not fill the nesting box with hardwood shavings as I had originally intended, per Stelco's suggestion for Flickers. What would you have done?

Please post your question over in Garden Foes and provide a link to the new thread-
http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/pad/all/

People can answer it more candidly over there.

They are a variety of things you can do to help our native birds. We can discuss passive control here, but active control should be posted in the forum mentioned by Equil.