I started last week...
I really want chickadees, wrens, titmice, etc. There is a house wren I noticed from calls last fall. Put up a feeder that looks like a bird house with glass sides for dried mealworms. Placed under a porch at about 6 feet from ground. Have seen the wren every day since last week. Hasn't really frequented it or the other feeders though. Anyway, I created a shelf at about 7 feet level under the porch. Will place another 8 foot long shelf under other side today. Porch floor joists make it appear as compartments. Perfect for house wrens or Carolina wrens. Additionally, will do same under back deck. Last week I hung 3 houses but much higher. Would LOVE chickadees. I hear them all the time but have yet to see them at the feeders. As my userid implies, I am in an older urban neighboorhood with lots of trees, etc.
BTW, as I am trying to excluse non-native house sparrows and starlings, I am using restricted sized holes on the boxes. We have kestrels here and would consider a box on North side of house way up on fire escape just under 3rd floor if I thought it would work. Don't want a glorified starling box though. Have heard squirrels will enlargebhokes as well. Love my squirrels ( bulb theft notwithstanding). Would love to do same for screech owls but have yet to hear one anywhere nearby.
I mentioned hole size above. The only one I am concerned about is the hole size for titmice seems to be large enough for house sparrows. Has anyone had titmice in a box? Comments?
BTW, recomendations for house wren boxes are 5-10 feet from ground. We do have raccoons and opossums, so I wonder if there is a safe way to do this?
