3 Nesting Boxes to Hang Right NOW

 Nesting season feels so far away, and for many birds, it is. While we are still a few months away from seeing any fledglings, there are some birds who get a head start on their nesting season. Birds like Barred & Screech Owls, Eastern Bluebirds, Mourning Doves, and Bald Eagles all start their season of love a bit early. To help attract these birds to your yard and to give them a safe place to call home, now is a great time to hang up nesting boxes - minus the Bald Eagle, that would be one big shelf to install! Here are three nesting boxes to hang in your yard right now:

Screech Owl in nesting box

Eastern Screech Owl 
As secondary cavity nesters, screech owls rely on holes previously made by woodpeckers, squirrels, or caused by fungus and rot, and also readily nest in nesting boxes. Eastern Screech Owls begin seeking out suitable nesting areas during the winter months, with nesting beginning anywhere from mid February to mid July (average active time is March to early June). The pair do not build a nest. The female lays her clutch of 2-6 eggs in the debris at the bottom of the nesting cavity/box. 

Box placement

• Unlike many other Ontario-native owl species, Eastern Screech Owls are well-adapted to more urban environments and will use nest boxes placed in any area where there is sufficient tree cover. This includes city parks, treed backyards, woodland edge, farmland, etc. Boxes should be placed at least 10 feet high, no higher than 30 feet, and can be mounted to a pole or tree. If mounting to a tree, the tree should be at least the width of the box and it is ideal to have a nearby branch for the young when they are ready to leave the box. Boxes can face any direction, though south & east are preferred to allow the owls a suitable sunbathing perch. Be sure to add 2-3" of wood shavings to the bottom of the box as bedding.

 

Click to view or purchase our Eastern Screech Owl Nesting Box. Plans for box construction are available here.

Barred Owl chicks in nesting box

Barred Owl
Barred Owl breeding season begins in February, when you will hear the famous, "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?" call, along with various cackles and hoots from courting pairs. Like screech owls, Barred Owls are secondary cavity nesters and require holes previously made by woodpeckers, squirrels, or caused by fungus and rot, and will also accept properly placed nest boxes. They seek out suitable nesting sites year round, and have an active nesting period of March to July so it is best to get a box up as early as possible to increase the chances of a pair choosing it as their home. As with screech owls, Barred do not build nests within their chosen cavity. They may add feathers, lichen, or moss as bedding for their 1-5 egg cutch, but will not build a nest. 

Box placement

• Barred Owls prefer habitat that is near water and has a mix of large deciduous and coniferous trees. Boxes should be placed at least 12 feet high, and within 200 feet of a body of water if possible. Boxes can face any direction, though south & east are preferred to allow the owls a suitable sunbathing perch. It is ideal to have a nearby branch for the young when they are ready to leave the box, but there should be no branches obstructing the box entrance. Be sure to add 3-4" of wood shavings to the bottom of the box as bedding.
  
  Click to view or purchase our Barred Owl House. Plans for box construction are available here.

Eastern Bluebird pair on WBU Eastern Bluebird House

Eastern Bluebird
Contrary to popular belief, not all bluebirds move south for the winter. Many bluebirds stick around their territories throughout the winter months, forming nomadic flocks in search of fruit to feed on. This gives them the advantage of scouting nesting sites early before their competition (other bluebirds and tree swallows) arrive in the spring. While active nesting doesn't typically begin until April, you may notice winter bluebirds in your area checking out nesting boxes now. 

Box placement

• Eastern Bluebirds prefer treed habitats, but open and with little understory or ground cover.  Boxes should be mounted on a pole or fence post from 4 to 6 feet high. The box entrance should face east, and should be toward an open area. If hanging multiple boxes, pairs can be 15 to 20 feet from each other, and each pair should be spaced a minimum of 300 feet apart. Bluebirds build their own nest within the box so shavings are not necessary, but a thin layer can be added for extra bedding.
  
  *Tip: Bluebirds have multiple broods per season! Monitor your boxes closely and clean out old nests as soon as a brood fledges so that it is ready for another family.

 

Click to view or purchase a variety of our Eastern Bluebird Boxes. Plans for box construction are available here.

 

Red-breasted Nuthatch in nesting box

The rest of our birds aren't far behind these three eager species, so it's a good idea to keep nesting boxes in mind in the coming weeks. It may not be necessary to install boxes for every species this early, but by the end of March and early April you will want to have your boxes prepped and ready for the 2023 nesting season. Some boxes to consider to attract a wide variety of birds to your yard include Downy Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Great Crested Flycatcher, House Wren, and Chickadee. Find them all and more on our website.

Happy trails!
- Shayna