 Bluebirds, Carolina wrens, tufted titmice, woodpeckers and many other common birds are all cavity nesters. That is, they nest in natural holes in trees or branches or in artificial cavities or nest structures. Natural holes are often scarce in neighborhoods these days as homeowners "tidy" up their yards by removing dead wood. Leave a dead snag in your yard, and you and your child can watch different bird species excavate nest holes and forage for insects. Or hang a basket or natural gourd with a precut hole under the eaves of your house for Carolina wrens and great crested flycatchers. You may also install anodized aluminum houses for purple martins or buy a precut wooden nest box kit, available at some retailers.
If you want to cut the wood for the nest box yourself, remember that each box should be cut for a definite species; entrance size and cavity depth requirements vary considerably. An excellent resource is Woodworking for Wildlife-Homes for Birds and Wildlife. Contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Box 7, Centennial Building, St. Paul, MN 55155. Call their bookstore at 1-800-657-3757 or order online at http://www.comm.media.state.mn.us.
For more information on nest box dimensions for Florida cavity nesters, see our online version of Planting a Refuge for Wildlife by Susan Cerulean, Celeste Botha and Donna Legare or Order Publication. (This order form is in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view form.)
Before deciding on a bird nest box, consider that birds have specific nesting habitat preferences related to their food preferences. For example, bluebirds prefer wide open fields. Orient the nest box towards the direction of some low shrubs so that young chicks may have a place to safely perch after their first fledgling flights. A good reference book to understand bird habitat requirements or preferences is "Landscaping for Florida's Wildlife" by Joe Schaefer and George Tanner.
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