What Lives in These Boxes?

(All Seasons | Grades 2-8) • Map Stop 2 • Find bird boxes along the long trail that is on the side of Twelve Hills away from the school and soccer field

Bird House Stop 2 WalkStem MathFinders

Which bird do you think uses the box you see here?

What is the box for?

Why do we pick certain shapes and sizes for bird boxes?

Background Information:

Cavity-nesting birds nest in tree cavities, and sometimes in birdhouses or bird boxes. They choose places to nest that are the correct size for them and are in the correct habitat.

Activity:

Measure the box height, width, and depth, and the width of the entrance hole. Then, check it against the chart below, and try to figure out which of the listed cavity-nesting birds can live there before viewing the answer on the next page.

Carolina Chickadee
length 4.75 in.
wingspan 7.5 in.
weight 0.37 oz

Carolina Chickadee

Eastern Bluebird
length 7 in.
wingspan 13 in.
weight 1.1 oz

Eastern Bluebird

Red-bellied
Woodpecker
length 9.25 in.
wingspan 16 in.
weight 2.2 oz

Red-bellied Woodpecker on a branch

Wood Duck
length 18.5 in.
wingspan 29.9 in.
weight 1.3 lbs

Barred Owl
length 20.9 in.
wingspan 42 in.
weight 1.6 lbs

Can a barred owl fit in this nest box
iNaturalist
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