In general the woodpeckers choose to build their own houses. But as the Flicker is so unlike other woodpeckers in appearance and in certain of his well-known ways, it is not surprising to learn that he will readily take possession of an artificial bird house. Naturally, a woodpecker (and the Flicker is that) is scarcely an exception to the rule that bird-house tenants prefer something along the general lines of a woodpecker’s work. A section of a hollow trunk or branch of the proper dimensions inside may easily be transformed into an ideal Flicker house. Next best is the dugout type illustrated in [Plate II]. Finally, the semi-cylindrical or even rectangular house will do very well if the other specifications are about those given in [Table I]. The country or the suburbs, not too near to a residence, is the right environment for the Flicker.
A Flicker which took possession of a house I had placed for Crested Flycatchers spent days in audibly widening the rectangular chamber until a soft bed of chips was provided to receive the eggs. The moral is—make the sides of thick, soft wood, and let even a woodpecker furnish his own bedding. However, one or two handfuls of coarse sawdust thrown into the Flicker house will be quite welcome to this bird.
Plate IV. Martin House
The foundation, each story, and the roof are built as units of uniform lateral dimensions. This permits adding more stories as the colony grows, and allows for easy cleaning. The central air shaft and elevated roof provide cooling by air circulation. A molding attached to the under side of the roof section and to the floor of each other section holds the section in place, aided by hooks and screw eyes as shown. A, Roof and upper stories assembled. B, Interior of one story. The bottom is cut out of the central chamber for the air shaft. C, Foundation or base. Its central cross-pieces are double thicknesses of ¾-inch oak; the rest of the frame is of pine ¾ inch thick. Four heavy angle irons (as shown) attach the base to the pole. D, Interior of roof section exposed to show outlet of air shaft and the screen-covered gable-end air vents (⅛- to ¼-inch mesh screen). E, F, G, Details of porches and railings. The railings and their supporting posts are of standard hardwood dowel stock.
The Purple Martin
This is the only desirable colony-forming bird-house tenant. Therefore the apartment type of house is a waste of material unless intended for Purple Martins and designed accordingly. Of the desirable bird-house clientele, none is quite so sophisticated as the Martins in the matter of a satisfactory location. If it is only so much as a biscuit-toss from the ground, the martin house may grace a bandstand, a village railroad station, or a busy village square. The house itself may be one of those adapted doll houses, complete with chimneys, windows, fancy doorways, and whatnots, ornate in fluted columns, bizarre in lightning rods and weathercocks, pretentious with elaborate porches and other gewgaws, and gaudy with rainbow tints. Go as far as you like, the Martin will pace you. However, for those who would consider the bird’s point of view to be of greater importance than their own, appropriate suggestions are offered in [Table I] and in [Plate IV]. If painted white the house will be cooler and may be preferred by the birds. The reader should be advised that Martins are temperamental and will sometimes refuse to occupy a suitable house because of some dislike for its situation. Furthermore, Martins sometimes inexplicably abandon a locality where they have previously been abundant.
Plate V. Nesting House for Ducks