The Wood Duck and (in proper places) the Hooded Merganser and Golden-eye are the duck species for which we may provide these houses. The location should be secluded and near the water; the exact site, 10 to 20 feet up on a stub or tree. Build preferably of rough slab material. See [text].
The Tree-nesting Ducks
In suitable locations artificial sites may be provided for any of the several wild ducks which ordinarily nest in hollow trees. These ducks, as breeding species, are mostly northern, the Wood Duck being almost the only one which regularly nests, except at the higher elevations, very much south of the northern United States border. The Hooded Merganser may appropriate the house intended for the Wood Duck, and vice versa.
Figure 3. An easy-to-make box, especially suitable for ducks. Front and top are slab wood, the rest weathered boards. A close-fitting cleat screwed to under side of top, as shown, keeps top in place with help of one easily removable 2½-inch screw. See [Table I], [page 16], for dimensions.
The location is of first importance. This should be a secluded wooded stream or body of water. The stump or tree which is to form the support for the house, and also the entrance to the house itself, should be in plain sight from the water. It may be a hundred feet from the nearest shore, but the nearer the shore the better. A lone trunk, or one of several on the edge of a wood, will do. Avoid placing the house too near the ground. Further specifications are given in [Table I] and [Plate V].
Hawks and Owls
We have alluded to undesirable tenants, meaning usually, or in particular, the English Sparrow and European Starling. There is also another class of possible bird-house occupants to be dealt with—the owls and the Sparrow Hawk. The owls and the hawks are usually considered taboo on account of their fondness for the smaller birds which most persons wish to encourage. One does not ordinarily keep cats and canaries in the same restricted and common area and expect pleasing results. Yet, it may be quite another thing if an estate is large enough to provide sufficient wild cover. Owls and hawks are as interesting as other birds, and a wood, suitable in size and character, which lacks the quota of owls or hawks natural to it will always be lacking in one of its most proper assets and characteristics. To the true nature lover a great wild forest from which owls are excluded might seem, at best, an arboretum where there might as well be a name tag on each tree-trunk.