by Georgann Schmalz, Ornithologist, Fernbank Science Center, Atlanta, GA This month, watch for: Purple martins looking for nests Shore birds and waterfowl passing through on their way back north Sandhill cranes Cavity-nesting birds looking for nesting sites Listen for: Bird song increasing – Carolina chickadees (fee-bee, fee-bay) Tufted titmice – (peter, peter, peter). Although there is a lingering chill in the air and a modest threat of snow, February is the time to think about birds and bird boxes. Cavity-nesting birds often begin nesting earlier than other birds. So if you want to encourage them to nest near your home and garden, your boxes should be ready and hung by the middle of February. The males of each pair will scout around for a suitable nest cavity. Finding a clean, secure box (or hole), he begins to advertise it, trying to sell it to his mate. She is often rather fussy and may not like the first box he shows her. Sometimes, the couple may build dummy nests in one or two boxes and use only the last one to lay and brood the eggs. Put out more than one box to increase their choices, and your chances, of successful nesting. For more information, visit this site – http://www.mbr.nbs.gov/id/framlst/i7210id.htm In the Atlanta area, the most common songbirds that nest in boxes are eastern bluebirds, Carolina wrens, tufted titmice, Carolina chickadees, brown-headed and white-headed nuthatches, and house wrens. Any suitable box that measures about 5″ x 5″ and is at least 8″ inches deep should attract these birds. The entrance hole, drilled close to the roof, should be l” in diameter (l-l/2″ for bluebirds and elliptical for house wrens). Nail your box securely about 5 feet above the ground to a tree or post. For the birds’ safety, purchase a perchless box. These little birds prefer to land directly on the lip of the entrance hole. Perches let in ruthless house sparrows and starlings that will kill the eggs or nestlings. Now, if you really want a challenge, try a screech owl box. Eastern screech owls roost in boxes during the cold winter months and begin laying eggs in April. Owl boxes should be hung at least 15 feet above ground on a treetrunk. Be prepared to see little furry, beady-eyed faces, however. Gray squirrels love owl boxes. But if your screech owls are tenacious, and you have patience, the squirrels usually give way to talons and beaks. For more on screech owls, visit this page – Screech Owl Info. Purple martins will be here soon, too. The first martins are usually seen in the Atlanta area by mid-February so purchase or clean out your boxes and gourds now. If the first birds, often mislabeled “scouts”, find old nests in their colony, they will move on to better housing. Martin houses usually work best when they are placed in a open area (at least 50 feet from trees) with a small pond, but close to a building. So buy or build a bird box, nail it on the side of a tree or post, sit back and keep your fingers crossed. Before you know it, a little feathery couple may be moving lacey leaf skeletons and soft moss into their new home. Good bird boxes can be purchased from most garden centers around metro-Atlanta. For bird box construction plans, send a SASE to: Georgann Schmalz Fernbank Science Center 156 Heaton Park. Dr. NE. Atlanta, GA 30307. For more information on cavity nesting birds, read: Cavity-Nesting Birds of North American forests U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Handbook No. 511, Nov. 1977 30 birds That Will Build in Bird Houses R. B. Layton, Nature Books Publishers, 1977 Woodworking for Wildlife: Homes for Birds and MammalsWild About Birds: the DNR Bird Feeding Guide Minnesota DNR, Nongame Wildlife Program, Section of Wildlife (1-800-766-6000) For more information email Georgann Schmalz, Ornithologist – Fernbank Science Center at georgann.schmalz@fernbank.edu Copyright 1998 Georgann Schmalz