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Roosting box

17 years ago

OK, so I made this awesome roosting box with insulated sides, two predator-resistant doorways, lined with pine needles, etc, etc, based on all available info.

How do I get the blues to check it out?? Maybe they already did, but how can I make sure? I don't want to put their feeder closer to the box for fear others will use it. I don't get home til after dark, so I'm limited in observation these days. I don't want to peek inside because I don't want to scare them.

I realize my desire for more information is somewhat unreasonable. I am too hands-on! But if I could just nudge them a little closer to the box...

Ann

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Comments (6)

michelle_4466
17 years ago
Ann,
I built a roosting house the easy way.I took out the door for a regular BB house and turned it upside down.I sealed all the corners,plugged the vents and placed straws on the floor.I have the roosting house in my home in OH.I am in CA until mid Dec.I can't wait to see if any BBs are roosting in it.Also, it is very close to my feeding station.
michelle
Ann
Original Author
17 years ago
Hi Michelle,

After some research, I decided to put the doorways at the top of the box. See: http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/nestbox/fawzirb.htm and http://www.bestofbbml.audubon-omaha.org/roost.htm Apparently BB's preference is to roost on the bottom of the box, sometimes in large numbers. So I winterproofed (insulated) my 3 nestboxes without changing the doorway position, and then made my big roosting box with every specification I could. A lot of work and $ for nothing if they don't use it! We'll see...

Ann
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Most winter roosting boxes do have the hole at the bottom because the huddled birds generate enough heat even in the coldest weather to pull them through. Supposedly, blues do not roost but pile up on the floor to keep warm, so putting the hole at the bottom won't work. Any boxes I build in the future will have a very large roof overhang and face away from prevailing winds. I may paint the roofs black for more solar gain. I got various plans off of the internet but hesitate to share them until I'm sure they work. Materials were rather expensive and I put in quite a few hours (and nervous sweat) building them-I'm no finish carpenter and these boxes need to built tight. I'll keep you informed of what works but for the blues alone, you could just tape over or plug the openings in a regular NABS. Most predators should be in hibernation but since so many adult birds could be lost, I'll watch these boxes very carefully. Kathy-I have property in Allegany. Even though Green Ridge surrounds it, I'll put up a box there also. Hopefully, the local black bears will be hibernating all winter and leave my birds and feeders alone.
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nature_david
17 years ago
Even if they don't use it, you still put in effort for a good cause, and really that's all that matters.
Ann
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you David...that actually does make me feel better!

Ann
vonyon
17 years ago
The best time to see them this time of year is very late in the day light. The other day I had about a dozen hanging out in my yard right at the end of the day. In the winter when I have seen them using the boxes for roosting, they go in right around dusk. They all pile in there. You could check it on the weekend to see if you see any feces. Just a thought. Birds won't stay in there all night without defecating.
Ann
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks Vonyon!

I'll try both tomorrow.

I have avoided looking in the box because I don't know if they're ever in there during the day, and I don't want to startle anyone. But maybe I'll take one peek. Even if it clearly looks lived-in, I'll try watching at dusk tomorrow---to make sure it's not sparrows!!!

Ann

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