Affordable Housing

[DoveKeeper]

Our Downey Woodpeckers are here again for another winters stay. Both the male and the female are together again. Should I build a house for them? I think they breed in Febuary here wich is the coldest month for us. Today I heard the male making his squeaky sound again.

[crispycreme]

If you want my opinion (which is admittedly novice), by all means yes! Woodpeckers all over North America are under assault by Starlings for their natural homes, so anything that you can do to help out our poor pecking friends would be laudable. I haven't had the pleasure yet of spotting a Downey, although they do sneak into our state on occasion. SUPPORT THE WOODPECKERS!!! :-D :-D

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Yes do make a possible home for them - and how about a camera inside?

If you go to this site, you will be able to look at nesting birds all around the world, though I don't think there are any woodpeckers mentioned here.

http://www.pitt.edu/~dziadosz/

[DoveKeeper]

Although I consider myself adept at woodworking I decided to go the mail order route on this one. I ordered these Downy Woodpecker houses from a vendor from Maine. I was pleased with the craftsmanship and there were a lot of features that I may have overlooked not to mention the included excavation woodchips and detailed instructions. I might build a house for "Operation Starling Cam" in the spring.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

They look very good Dovekeeper - I hope the Downies appreciate them.