Wild Bird Nest Box question, please answer?

Question

I am on the student council at my school and i am trying to make the school better for the enviroment. One of my ideas is putting up nest boxes in some of our trees. The school is in central Ohio and our trees include some soft bristle pines and some other decidous trees. I was wondering what kind of birds we should be able to attract, how to attract them, and how to make sure that we buy good quality nest boxes that will be easy to clean and stand up to weather, as well as be good for the birds too of course. I also need to know how far to space them apart so that i know they will all be used. please answer, the next student council meeting is coming up and i we dont have them very often so i need to be ready with ideas and facts etc. Thank you in advance for the help. I will pick best answer :)

Answer 1

I am not sure what age range your school teaches, the only problem I see with nest boxes in schools is when the babies fledge (leave the nest) they tend to go to the ground and either get picked up by the students or picked on. Before you install then you might want to do a enrichment presentation for the students educating them on what this will do for the school and the environment, as well as what to expect when the birds start to nest there. Nest boxes are not always used especially if put up in highly populated areas. What you could do to start is introduce native plants that will attract the wildlife to your school. Try and find plants that birds either will find edible or plants that attract insects that birds will eat. You can also offer plenty of water sources. Sometimes it is more the environment rather then the nesting that attracts birds. You will get more birds with food during the year then by just offering them a place to nest. If you contact your local Audubon society they may be able to help you with this endeavor with ideas. They don't just focus on birds they also focus on plants and insects. You can also try contacting your local nature center they may also be able to help. I think what you are doing is great I wish more people we as interested in the environment.

Answer 2

I think your idea is commendable, but I would only put up the nest boxes for Martins and nothing else. If you would do a brief search on the internet you can find many easy plans to either make the bird houses which are needed to be on very tall poles, or you can just buy the kits. They are great birds in your area and will eat bugs and stay away from the children. My other suggestion is to provide feeding stations for your feathered friends in your area and that will be supporting the wildlife in and around your area and eliminate the possibility of a fledgling getting hurt or picked up by a student.

Answer 3

I live in Northeastern Ohio,so the kind of birds you could attract would be the same as the ones I get in my yard.You should be able to attract chickadees,wrens(house and Carolina),woodpeckers ( flickers,downy,red-bellied) and maybe titmice,nuthatches and even screech owls.You need to place the houses at different heights according to the species of birds.Of course you'll need different sized houses,too.To attract the birds,you should put out some feeders,a water source and food -bearing plants(trees,shrubs,flowers) You should put the boxes up in late February,but start feeding the birds now,to get them interested in the area.Put out nesting material as well;dog or cat hair( not flea treated) short pieces of yarn,snakeskins,onion skins,moss,etc.Here are a few links to places that sell birdhouses and to another that tells you how to build a bird friendly habitat.Good luck.

http://audubonworkshop.com/Default.asp?bhcd2=1191541042

http://www.nwf.org/backyard/nestingboxes.cfm

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/attracting/

http://birding.about.com/od/backyardbirds/a/nestmaterials.htm

Answer 4

Brenden, What a great venture! Birds that nest in nest containers are called hollow area-nesters. There are greater suitable than 50 species of North American breeding birds that decide on or build a hollow area for his or her nest. you're conscious of a few, chickadees, nuthatches, blue birds, wood peckers, domicile finch and pink martins. yet did you recognize that various species of owls are additionally hollow area-nesters? The barred owl, screech owl and barn owl will nest is huge nest containers place 10 to 30 ft above the floor. Making your very own nest containers is the excellent thank you to bypass. each and each species demands a diverse length of field and a particular length of hollow. in case you opt to make certain what kinds of birds are interior the area you're utilising, positioned out some feeders and watch. putting feeders 20 or 30 ft from the area with nest containers is the excellent thank you to entice birds. you additionally can use suet cages to place out nesting components to inspire nest construction. in case you opt to function yet another element on your venture, attempt utilising a nest field cam. that's a video feed that facilitates you to observe what is going on interior the nest field. desire this facilitates. good success. John