Tree Swallow parent and chick - nesting season is nigh.

Tree swallow feeding a chick in a nest box in Maple Ridge, 2006.

If you plan on putting up a bird house, the time to do it is now.  Well, for where I live, which is in the Okanagan in British Columbia.  It is the middle of March and I have noticed that a lot of birds have started nesting.  Not all of them, of course, as the swallows haven't come back yet, but many Passerine bird species have begun claiming territory.  

Nest boxes should have a hole the size for the birds you want - or more specifically, too small for the birds you don't want.  Larger holes will be sure to get starlings, while slightly smaller holes will suit house sparrows fine.  To keep both of these species out, make your hole no bigger than 1-1/8 inches across.  This will allow chickadees, swallows, and house wrens access.  Even if you have larger holes and one of the desirable species takes up residency, they are at risk of being killed by larger birds such as the aforementioned villains.  These other birds will haul smaller competitors out of the box and kill them just to gain access.

Cleaning your boxes from time to time is also a good idea.  Don't paint the wood or put on a small dowel for a perch as it only gives pirates a good place to perch.  Rough wood is best; I like cedar as it keeps bugs down.  Also, make sure the box is away from places where cats can reach it.  I have seen cats "fishing" for chicks by putting their arms into a box and exploring the contents until there are no more chicks left to find.  Another good point is to place the box in a shaded area where it won't get too hot.  Chicks will die of heat prostration and dehydration in a matter of minutes on a very hot day in the sun.

There is a good site for nest box specifications, bird types, and care here.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com