Survey on Cavity Nester Preferences

Mike Azevedo of California and I (from Connecticut) collaborated to assemble more information on cavity nester preference. There is a lot of information available in books and on the Internet about biology and nestbox specifications for various cavity nesters, but information on WHERE to put the box tends to be vague (although I have compiled some information on breeding habitat.)

We are trying to gather information from different parts of the country, and plan to summarize it on this website. If we get enough information, we will prepare species-specific “All About” pages like the one on Black-capped Chickadees to help people figure out how best to attract birds to nest in their boxes.

The spirit of this is to gather information in an anecdotal fashion, so you can respond for birds that have nested in the past, for birds of neighboring trails where you know all the information, or whatever you have information on. There is no intent to duplicate The Birdhouse Network database, which we also hope to mine information from.

We are not requesting information on bluebirds, Tree Swallows, Purple Martins or House Wrens as a lot of data on those species is readily available. Our focus is on small cavity nesters that are less common in nestboxes.

1. SPECIES YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH (CHECK ONE ONLY. Please COMPLETE A SEPARATE SURVEY FOR ADDITIONAL SPECIES)

2. Your Name if you would like to be included in acknowledgements.

3. Email address in case we would like to request more information. (Note: I never give out email addresses without permission. See the Privacy Policy).

4. City and State

5. NESTBOX INFO:

A. NUMBER OF YEARS THESE BOXES WERE USED BY THIS SPECIES

B. STYLE OF NESTBOX

NABS
Peterson
Slot
Gilbertson
PVC
Gilwood
Natural Gourd
Plastic Gourd
Other

C. SIZE OF ENTRANCE HOLE

1 1/8
1 3/8
1.25
1.5
1 9/16
1.375 x 2.250
1.75

D. SHAPE OF ENTRANCE

round
oval
slot
other (e.g., square, mouse hole: describe

D. BOX OPENING (e.g., opens from top)

roof (top)
side
front
bottom

E. ENTRANCE HOLE ORIENTATION

N NE NW E W SE SW S

F. PAIRED
Yes No

B. FLOOR SIZE OF NESTBOX (e.g., 4″ x 4″)

C. DISTANCE FROM BOTTOM OF ENTRANCE HOLE TO FLOOR

5. LOCATION INFO

A. CREEK, RIVER, LAKE OR OTHER WATER BODY NEARBY?

B. IF YOU HAD MORE THAN ONE ACTIVE NESTING BY THE SPECIES AT A TIME, HOW FAR APART WERE THE NESTBOXES?

C. SUN OR SHADE

HEIGHT OF ENTRANCE HOLE OFF TH EGROUND

D. DIRECTION ENTRANCE FACED

E. SURROUNDING HABITAT

1 – residential urban/suburban
2 – residential/rural
3 – agricultural field
4 – meadow/grassland
5 – park/school/field
6 – forest/woodland
7- forest edge
8 – golf course
9 – cemetery
A – swamp/wetland
B – desert scrub
C – industrial/commercial
D – fresh water
E – salt water
F – other – specify in comments

• • • Forest (large trees with crowns touching, forming an overhead canopy with branches
    • Woodland (small trees and shrubs, frequently dense, without overhead canopy)
    • Parkland (large trees widely spaced)
    • Open (smaller trees and shrubs, or none)
    • Commercial (little or no green space)

F. RURAL, SUBURBAN/URBAN

PUBLIC PARK/BAKYARD/OTHER

DESCRIBE AREA

ARE THERE HOUSES WITHIN 100 YARDS OF THE NESTBOX

GENERAL ADIVCE FOR SOMEONE HOPING TO ATTRACT THIS SPECIES?

WHAT PROBLEMS HAVE CAUSED NESTING FAILURE FOR THIS EPCIES?

Submit your info

Thank you so much for your response! Hopefully, the information will help people better place their nestboxes in the future to attract this species.