The eastern phoebe is
a small gray songbird which usually feeds on insects while flying over water. Phoebes sit
on low branches overhanging the water of a pond or creek, then make a short abrupt flight
out over the water to catch their prey. Eastern Phoebe (Plan 7)
The eastern phoebe is
a small gray songbird which usually feeds on insects while flying over water. Phoebes sit
on low branches overhanging the water of a pond or creek, then make a short abrupt flight
out over the water to catch their prey.
Phoebes often build nests on nesting shelves under the eaves of lake homes or cabins. The delicate nest is a beautiful cup-shaped structure made of mosses and lichens. The phoebe's call is a distinctive buzz-like "free-bee."
Gray and Fox Squirrels (Plan 15 & Plan 16)
Gray and fox squirrels readily adapt to nest boxes in backyards, woodlots, and farm
groves. Gray squirrels tend to be found more in urban areas and in larger stands of
hardwood forest. Fox squirrels are more commonly found in 
farmsteads, river bottoms and woodlots with
open understories.
Plan 16 is the preferred design for squirrel boxes. This box incorporates an inside shelf immediately under the entrance hole. This shelf prevents predation by cats and raccoons. Incorporating this inside shelf allows construction of a smaller box. Smaller boxes are more economical and easier to place.
Houses should be placed in trees at least 10 inches in diameter. They should be at least 30 feet above the ground. The entrance hole should face either east or south to be downwind from prevailing winter winds. A squirrel nest box can be made more enticing by filling it half full with dry leaves. To attach the box to the tree, use a lag screw and washer at the top and bottom of the back piece. Lag screws must be loosened annually to allow for tree growth. Wire should not be used because it can girdle the tree. Boxes are most heavily used in the winter, so new boxes should be set out in the fall. It is not necessary to clean out squirrel nest boxes.
House Wren (Plan 1 & Plan 2)
The house wren is one of our most common and enjoyable backyard birds. Its beautiful bubbling calls are a joy to hear during the summer.
House wren nest boxes are likely to be used if they are 5 to 10 feet above the ground and located under the eave of a building or in a tree. This and gourd for purple martins are the only kinds of bird house which can be free-hanging from an eye-screw. All other bird houses need to be Firmly anchored. House wren holes are too small for house sparrows and European starlings to use. Don't put a perch on the nest box. Perches invite sparrows to try using the nest. If you have a perch on a wren house, take it off. The entrance hole for a wren house should be 1-inch in diameter. The 1 1/4-inch hole size shown in (Plan 1) also allows use by chickadees and nuthatches, but not house sparrows.
As soon as one family of wrens leaves a house, clean it out so another brood of young can be raised.