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Re: painting/staining screech owl boxes



>Friends, I'm wondering if anyone can suggest a benign stain or paint for
>the outside of two new screech owl boxes.  the makers used pine in one case
>and i'm unsure of the other wood, except it is not cedar or redwood.
>
>also, one was built following a design that suggested putting a perch
>inside the box below the opening, and making cuts in the wall below the
>perch -- like little steps for the young birds to use to get up and out.
>
>Does anyone know whether those are nice, or necessary?  thanks
>
>len pardue, asheville, nc

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LEN . . .

I suspect that either oil-based or water-based stain is fine on the 
outside of the box; a lighter color will keep the box color in hot 
weather if it's used for summertime roosting. (Of course, never put 
any stain on the interior.)

I suggest staining the box and then putting it in the sun (or in a 
warm, dry place like a heated garage) for a week or two before 
actually erecting it. That lets most of the aromatic compounds escape 
and should cause no problems for the eventual occupants.

The inside perch isn't necessary, but it does keep the owl from 
scraping its tail feathers on the bottom of the box. However, owls 
sit on the floor of natural cavities without inside perches, so I 
wouldn't go to the extra effort. The saw kerfs (grooves) are a good 
addition to any kind of nestbox, especially since the insides are 
much smoother than natural cavities; however, NOT having them may 
keep the youngsters in the box a day or two longer, allowing them to 
develop a little more before fledging.

BTW, I would boycott all redwood products unless you can get 
certification that they came from new-growth redwood plantations. No 
sense destroying old-growth redwood habitat for western populations 
of Spotted Owls while building nestboxes for Eastern Screech-Owls!

Happy Owling!

BILL

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BILL HILTON JR.
"The Piedmont Naturalist"
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road
York, South Carolina 29745
USA

e-mail: <hilton@rubythroat.org>

Voice & Fax: (803) 684-5852

Operation RubyThroat Website: <http://www.rubythroat.org>


"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to 
watch the sunset."

						BHjr.

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