Expert: Julia Booth - 8/18/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Julia, I have a pond 1 acre in size, about 17 feet deep loaded with fish and frogs and turtles. Half the pond is heavily wooded the other half is light woods with my house close by. I have a 15 foot pole with a trumpet vine on it next to the pond. I would like to put a bird box on the pole and in some of the trees around the pond. Could you please tell me what kind of boxes would be good. I dont want to put up boxes that wont be used. Thank you very much, john dumary.

ANSWER: I'd have to ask what kind of birds you're hoping to attract. Each species has its own specifications: box dimensions, height the box should be placed and diameter of the entrance hole.

Right next to a pond, depending on your geographic location, you could attract Starling, Grackle, Red-winged Blackbirds, Flycatchers, Phoebes, and Swallows. Trouble is that most of the birds that live by the water don't use nesting boxes.

Here are some that do: Tree Swallows, Purple Martins, Wood Ducks, Robins, Bluebirds, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Cardinals, Finches, Sparrows, Wrens, Titmice, some Owl species. There's more. Too many for me to list. It's the end of the nesting season now. So even if you put some up, you wouldn't experience any benefits until next March or so. During the winter, mice and rats like to use the space. they usually vacate in time for the birds.

What kind of birds do you want to attract? Let me know and then we can go from there. Box specifications can vary greatly from one bird to the next. I have a great book on the subject. It's old and I can't seem to find any website that has the same wealth of info. It's called "the complete birdhouse book" Donald and Lillian Stokes.

Julia

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Julia, WOW! I really found the right person!I would like to start with owls, blue birds, and swallows. We get craines ( did I spell that right)? here a lot, where do they nest? This is totally cool, cant wait to get started. We also have a kingfisher around,a friend told me they live in the ground, is that true? Thank you, John, schenectady NY

Answer
Kingfishers actually dig deep tunnels to lay their eggs in and both parents incubate them. They only stay there during the nesting season. Not much you can do to help them out in that regard. The moist, soft earth beside your pond is an ideal location for them. But they tend to nest a little further from humans than some birds.

To my knowledge, there are no Cranes in the state of New York. I'm guessing what you really mean are Egrets and Herons? These are unlikely to nest close to your house. They usually nest in colonies, out on isolated land masses surrounded by water or in trees.

Swallows-

For you, this would be only the Tree Swallow. You want the nesting box to be on a pole or fitted to the trunk of a tree, about 6 or 7 feet off the ground. The interior of the nesting box should be about 5 by 5 inches and the height between 9 and 12. The opening should be no more than 1.5 inches in diameter. Anything larger and you risk the young trying to fledge before they are ready.

Bluebirds-

For you this would be the Eastern Bluebird. Same distance off the ground, 6-7 feet. Interior should be 4 by 4 inches and 11-12 inches in height. Opening also 1.5 inches.

Owls-

You've got 4 types that nest in boxes in NY and they all have different specs. These are better concealed in a tree than on posts.

Barn Owl: Box 4 feet off the ground, 16 inches wide, 22 inches deep and 16 inches high. The opening should be 6-8 inches in diameter.

Barred Owl: Box 14-18 feet off the ground, interior 14 by 14 inches and height 22-28 inches. Opening should be 6-8 inches in diameter.

Eastern Screech Owl: Box 10-12 feet off the ground, interior 8 by 8 inches and 15-18 inches in height. Opening 2.4 to 4 inches in diameter. Yes, they can fit.

Northern Saw Whet Owl: Same specs as the screech owl. These are smaller, so they need less space.

Good luck. If you build it, they will come.

Julia