[Illustration: Illustrated capital I]
In general the woodpeckers choose to build their own houses. But as the
Flicker is so unlike other woodpeckers in appearance and in certain of
his well-known ways, it is not surprising to learn that he will readily
take possession of an artificial bird house. Naturally, a woodpecker
(and the Flicker is that) is scarcely an exception to the rule that
bird-house tenants prefer something along the general lines of a
woodpecker's work. A section of a hollow trunk or branch of the proper
dimensions inside may easily be transformed into an ideal Flicker house.
Next best is the dugout type illustrated in Plate II. Finally, the
semi-cylindrical or even rectangular house will do very well if the
other specifications are about those given in Table I. The country or
the suburbs, not too near to a residence, is the right environment for
the Flicker.
A Flicker which took possession of a house I had placed for Crested
Flycatchers spent days in audibly widening the rectangular chamber until
a soft bed of chips was provided to receive the eggs. The moral is--make
the sides of thick, soft wood, and let even a woodpecker furnish his own
bedding. However, one or two handfuls of coarse sawdust thrown into the
Flicker house will be quite welcome to this bird.
[Illustration: Plate IV. Martin House
The foundation, each story, and the roof are built as units of
uniform lateral dimensions. This permits adding more stories as the
colony grows, and allows for easy cleaning. The central air shaft
and elevated roof provide cooling by air circulation. A molding
attached to the under side of the roof section and to the floor of
each other section holds the section in place, aided by hooks and
screw eyes as shown. A, Roof and upper stories assembled. B,
Interior of one story. The bottom is cut out of the central chamber
for the air shaft. C, Foundation or base. Its central cross-pieces
are double thicknesses of ¾-inch oak; the rest of the frame is of
pine ¾ inch thick. Four heavy angle irons (as shown) attach the base
to the pole. D, Interior of roof section exposed to show outlet of
air shaft and the screen-covered gable-end air vents (1/8- to ¼-inch
mesh screen). E, F, G, Details of porches and railings. The railings
and their supporting posts are of standard hardwood dowel stock.]