Barred Owl (Plan 13)
The barred owl is one of our more common owls in hardwood forests. Its call is a
distinctive "Who-cooks-for-you." The barred owl nest box is made of 3/4-inch
thick exterior grade plywood. Do not paint, stain, or treat the box with creosote. Put 
a 2 to 3 inch
layer of small wood chips, or pine needles, in the bottom of the box. No cleaning is
needed except to remove leaves and other litter that squirrels put into the box. The
entrance hole is 7 inches wide and 7 inches high with a rounded top and rounded corners at
the bottom. The hole can be either on the front or on a side, but if it is on the side the
box is easier to clean. This box can be cleaned out through the hole, so the roof does not
need to be hinged.
The box should be cleaned out or placed in January. Locate it 15 to 30 feet high in a mature lowland hardwood area, and preferably within 200 feet of water. Do not place the box on the edge of a clearing or within 150 feet of a residence. The entrance hole should not be obscured by branches or leaves, but a perch near the nest box is desirable. This perch should be near enough to the box so that the young can "branch" out onto it as they leave the nest. Otherwise they may fall to the ground and be eaten by predators. The box should be placed on a living tree which is at least 12 inches in diameter.
The large entrance hole may predispose barred owlets to raccoon predation. So it's important not to leave a scent trail on the tree. Nest box checks should be infrequent or made with a ladder.
Eastern Red Squirrel (Plan 14)
The eastern red squirrel, like the flying squirrel, is adaptable to a wide variety of habitats ranging from northern coniferous forests to farm woodlots. The screech owl box in (Plan 14) is appropriate for use by eastern red squirrels, and they will also use wood duck boxes. They are extremely aggressive at bird feeders and regularly eat the eggs and young of songbirds. For these reasons, they are not among the more favored tenants in backyard nest boxes.
Great Crested Flycatcher (Plan 5)
This fascinating songbird of our hardwood forests, orchards, and parks is grayish above with a yellowish breast. It is more often heard than seen. The call is an ascending loud whistle. "Wheeeep!" The nests are often characterized by the presence of shed snakeskins which have been placed there by the flycatchers. The bulky nest also includes twigs, leaves, hair, feathers and bark Fibers.
This species could also be treated as a bird of open areas. In Pennsylvania, abandoned orchards are preferred habitat. Place boxes in an old orchard, on the edge of a woodland clearing, or where stands of evergreens and hardwoods meet.
Great crested flycatchers will use the one-board house in (Plan 5), except that the entrance hole should be 1 9/16 -inches in diameter. If the diameter is larger, starlings may take over the cavity.
Chances of use are best if the house is placed from 10 to 20 feet high. But this species will frequently use a nest box 4 to 8 feet above ground, whereas starlings rarely nest this low.
Newly fledged flycatchers are a real treat to see. They cling to the side of trees like fuzzy little woodpeckers.