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Conference clt::wild_birds

Title:Birders Like to Watch
Notice:June 1997 sightings in Note 65554
Moderator:ROCKS::ROBINSON
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Wed Jun 04 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:655
Total number of notes:6735

648.0. "Northern Flicker Nesting Box" by ICS::LAJEUNESSE () Mon Feb 24 1997 10:05

    Hi,
    
    Is there anyone out there that would have a book or some type of
    material that would have the dementions needed for a bird box for a
    Norther Flicker?
    
    I had a pair nest in an old Birch Tree right off my driveway.  That tree 
    was knocked down by a storm this year.  I would like to put up a box and 
    see if they will accept it this spring.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Mark
    ICS::LAJEUNESSE
      
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648.1The answer?NETCAD::CREEGANTue Feb 25 1997 12:5922
    See 596.2  
    
    I did find a book called 
    		
    			THE BIRDHOUSE BOOK
    			by BRUCE WOODS
    
    This might be what you want.  I live in Massachusetts, where
    libraries have inter-library loans.  If you go to the library
    and request this book, they will find it somewhere in 
    Mass. and request it for you.  You can decide if this is the
    book you might want to invest in, or you can make a nesting-box
    if their directions are what you are looking for.
    
    Let us know if it works.  I had Northern Flickers nesting in
    a birch tree (that fell down during the winter a couple of years 
    ago).  While nesting the male broke his neck fighting his reflection 
    in our window.  We buried him in a shady spot while the children
    looked on.  I was stunned by how detailed his feather pattern
    was - awesome.  I'm not sure the female could provide enough food 
    for the clutch.  They SCREAMED for food all day long.  I never
    thought to put up a box for the returning female.
648.2ICS::LAJEUNESSETue Feb 25 1997 15:3619
    Thanks for responding.  I did a little searching myself.  I ended up
    calling the Audabon(sp) in Lincoln, MA.  
    
    For those interested the dementions are as follows.
    
    Opening of 2-3 inches 
    Place 10 - 20 inces above the floor 
    Inside dementions of 6" by 6" to 8" by 8"
    Total hight of 14" to 24" 
    
    I guess from looking at the dementions above you can conclude that they
    are not that picky about exact dementions like a blue bird would be.  
    
    
    
    Thanks,
    
    Mark
    
648.3SALEM::PERRY_WWed Feb 26 1997 12:198
    
    Watch out for those pesky English Sparrows taking the nest box.
    Once they take over they will drive other more desirable 
    birds away.  They are very aggressive and intellegent.
    If you see the English Sparrows take over the birdhouse
    just pull it down for awhile till they go away.
    
                                         Bill 
648.4Here today, gone tomorrowROCKS::ROBINSONSeasonally adjustedThu Feb 27 1997 07:1711
    Re "Pesky English Sparrows"
    
    The way things are going over here (where the P.E.S. came from) we
    might soon be pleased about Sparrows taking over nest boxes intended
    for other birds. UK population of House Sparrows has declined by around
    50% in the last 20 years. Mind you, I think I might be pretty
    displeased if one ousted a Northern Flicker (an extremely rare,
    non-breeding US vagrant)!
    What's the outlook for US House Sparrows?
    
    Chris
648.5NETCAD::CREEGANFri Feb 28 1997 12:316
    How many house sparrows would you like?
    
    
    ;-)
    
    
648.6Rather have finchesCSC32::M_EVANSbe the villageFri Feb 28 1997 18:005
    find a way to get them through quarantine.  I can almost bet you would
    have shopping center owners, older home owners, and others beating a
    path to your door with donations of sparrows.  
    
    meg
648.7wwwNETCAD::CREEGANWed Mar 05 1997 12:105
    See
    
    http://www.npsc.nbs.gov/resource/tools/ndblinds/nortflic.htm
    
    It has Northern Flicker Nest Box info. (dimensions, etc)
648.8ICS::LAJEUNESSEWed Mar 05 1997 14:207
    .7 Thank you for putting in the pointer.  I searched the WWW and could
    not find anything. 
    
    Thanks again.
    
    Mark
    
648.9thanks from me too.DECWET::JOMary had a little lamb, with mint jelly. Dot WarnerThu Mar 06 1997 16:346
    re .7
    
    thanks for the pointer.  they have instructions for all kinds
    of nest boxes.
    
    jo
648.10A fair exchange?ROCKS::ROBINSONSeasonally adjustedThu Mar 13 1997 08:218
    (Belatedly) Re .5
    
    >How many house sparrows would you like?
    
    How's this for a deal Karen? I'll take all our House Sparrows back; in
    exchange you can have all your bloody Grey Squirrels....
    
    Chris