After talking about it for the last couple of years, we finally decided to order two wood duck nest boxes. Why didn't we do it sooner? These large nest boxes are no small feat to put up for anyone at any age but for two women, aged 59 and 65, it's a monumental task!
UPS delivered two wood duck nest boxes |
UPS delivered the nest boxes on April 17th, and that morning we got out the post hole digger, an 8 foot 4x4 post and went to work. This one was erected on the edge of our pond.Thank goodness our property is usually a soggy mess in the spring as it made the job of digging a hole much easier.
Gena and Keetie digging the hole for a nest box |
We put the second box up the following morning on the edge of the marsh and I've spent the last week lathering myself with arthritis cream and popping Tylenol and Aleve for sore hands, neck, back, etc. Was it worth it? Well, a certain male house sparrow is ecstatic we went to all this work just for him and we have spent the past week pulling his nesting material out of the box . You can say what you want about house sparrows but they are persistent and tenacious. I just love looking out the back door at our lovely new nest box and seeing this little bird perched in the entrance. Luckily, the box has a side that flips up for easy removal of his efforts.
Gena in her Sunday best checking the nest box |
If you build it, they will come. I can't wait to see the wood duck pictures.
ReplyDeleteI hope to have some good ones, Kerry. We've been having a lot of NE winds so everything is a little behind schedule.
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