Try an All-Seasons Combo Nest–Roost Box
A convertible nest-and-roost box provides an all-seasons attraction and added benefits for cavity nesting birds.
Early spring is a time to add a new nest box to your yard, but there is an exciting option to a spring nest box – a nest box that doubles as a roost box during the “off-season” – fall and winter. Imagine the joy of observing bluebirds using one of your nest boxes during the season, and having fledglings on hand for some days as they learn to fly and forage for themselves – then having chickadees use the same convertible nest box to spend cold nights during late fall and winter. In the songbird arena, that’s a real possibility with an “all-seasons” nest-and-roost box.
While there seem to be an infinite number of nest boxes available on the market, there are now a few true roost boxes too. But the newest and best option for birders these days seems to be a “convertible” nest box that has a reversable front panel so you can position the entrance hole at top during the nesting season, the reposition the front panel so the entrance hole near the bottom of the box to make it the best option as a roost box during fall and winter.
The idea behind having the entrance at the bottom during the cold weather months is to keep warm air created by the body heat of the bird or birds inside the box. Because hot air rises, instead of escaping out the top, the warm air is kept inside. Also, during the roosting season, a perch consisting of a crossbar or 2, or a ladder-perch, allows the birds to perch above the entrance hole. Sometimes, more than 1 bluebird or chickadee will roost together, adding body heat to the box’s interior. In fact, these small songbirds are known to huddle together for added warmth inside a box while roosting. A convertible nest-and-roost box is really a game changer for cavity nesting birds that also roost in cavities.
The interior of the BestNest nesting-roosting box shows the perches installed for birds to perch on when it is converted to a roost box.
We mention this now, when birders may be adding a new nest box to your yard, to help you consider this exciting option that expands the use of a nest box and the benefits it provides throughout spring and summer, followed by fall and winter. We are only aware of 3 “reversible” nest-and-roost boxes on the market now, made for cavity-nesting songbirds including bluebirds and chickadees. They are available from BestNest at Coveside Convertible Bird House/Winter Roost at BestNest.com and from Duncraft at Convertible Roost House | Warm Winter Bird House | Duncraft. Also, this “roosting box” is convertible for nesting too, although it’s not marketed as a nest-an-roost box; see Winter Roosting Box – Duncraft
Converting a Nest Box: If you prefer to keep the nest boxes you have, it is a relatively easy to convert any nest box into one with a reversible entrance for premium off-season roosting. Just remove the nails or screws that attach the front panel to the rest of the nest box; flip the front panel upside down, and screw it back into place with a minimum of screws. (We suggest reinstalling the panel with screws, which should make taking them out and reinstalling them a bit easier.)
Unfortunately, nest box builders and businesses that market nest boxes haven’t picked up on the great idea for Big nest boxes yet. But if you have a big nest box for screech owls, kestrels, or Wood Ducks – or if you buy a new one – you can easily modify a nest box into a reversible nest-and-roost box that can be used by a small owl, including a screech owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Northern Pygmy Owl, or a Boreal Owl – for spring nesting and winter roosting. Or, if you are planning to build a large nest box, we think using the convertible design is the best option for any birds, for any birders. Give it a try – buy, build, or modify a convertible nest-and-roost box for large or small cavity nesting birds.
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