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Nesting Box Question

14 years ago

I have two new wren/chickadee nesting boxes. I've never put these out before and I know many of you have experience and have warned against predators. I don't really have room for a pole and baffle. An obvious place for me to place them is on the side of an east-facing shed. I do have raccoons and squirrels in my area, but no snakes. If I place the boxes on the shed wall about a foot below the gutter, might this be okay? If so, how far apart from each other should I place each box. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Jann

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Comments (4)

donald lucius
14 years ago
here the chickadees head out this time of year to the higher mountains and nest in the pine and spruce trees
but the bluebirds and swallows have adapted to nesting under the eaves of barns and sheds and houses. At the farm we nailed boxes high up under the eaves on a south or east faceing side. they also prefered away from sides with doors. also they stayed away where trees were close to nests. you are probably earlier nesting there. Here lots of the birds do not nest till mid april or even early may.
bandjzmom
14 years ago
Jann, I see that you are all the way down in zone 10. Do you even get Chickadees down there? Have you seen them? I checked my field guide, and it looks like if you got any at all it would be the Carolina Chickadee. Here is a nice page on their nesting requirements. http://www.sialis.org/cach.htm
I don't see that there are any Wrens that would be breeding that far South either. Do you see them there in Summer? I have Carolina Wrens here in Georgia, but mine do not tend to use nesting boxes. They are more likely to build a nest inside a bag of rags or an old boot! So, I guess my answer to your question is that you need to first determine whether or not you would have either of these birds breeding in your area before worrying about putting up a box for them.
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Lisa: Thanks for your post. I did not see the babies last week, husband did. I have checked the nest- it is empty. I have heard some twitter out in the forest that adjoins our grounds- I'd like to think it might be the fledglings, but that may be wishful thinking. Things have been hectic lately so I have not opened the box as faithfully as in past years. There are no broken shells or feathers in box or on ground underneath. The nest was completely clean. We've never had racoons; I have heard owls very far off, but they have never appeared on the property. This box is close to our screen porch and under my office window, so I can usually monitor it by sight most of the time. This box has been in use since 2003; it's had at least one clutch per year. There's another box closer to the woods, and I've seen Mom and Dad Bluebird checking it out in the last two days. I've already cleaned out the box in question, and am going to install a baffle. It's silly to think that standing sentinel during the day will keep the nest box safe at night. Thanks again for your help.
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jannd
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi bandjzmom, I indeed have chickadees and wrens both. We have both chestnut-backed chickadees and Bewick's wrens in these parts. In fact, a neighbor has a Bewick's that is building a nest in her yard currently.That's sort of what inspired me to go ahead and consider putting out the nesting box. Thanks for your response.

Jann
bandjzmom
14 years ago
Hi Jann, Crazy old me. Please forgive me? Living over here where I do, I am thinking of way south Florida for zone 10. Gosh, you are a lucky duck then. I obviously don't anything about either of those species. I do know though that some of my neighbors to the north say that their Chickadees (which would be Black-capped)are not nesting in their boxes. Our Carolinas nest easily in the boxes. Conversely, our Carolina Wrens do not tend to use boxes, while I understand that the pesky House Wrens further north won't stay out of people's bird houses! So, I assume that there are regional differences in their nesting preferences. I would think that someone who lives in your immediate area would really be able to help with the nestbox placement, since they would know what is characteristic of the wonderful birds that you have. I hope that person shows up here to help you. Good luck to you!!

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