Birds and Their Houses: Cavity Nesters in Florida

<p>Birds come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They play a critical role in our ecosystems, keeping insect populations in-check, serving as a valuable prey item for our larger mammals, and helping to disperse seeds! Just like people, birds need food, water and shelter to survive. In this episode, we will explore a special type of bird called cavity nesters, who, as the name implies, need cavities to nest, reproduce and thrive.</p> <p><strong>Sign Up:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Register for our upcoming webinar all about cavity nesters and consider signing up for a workshop to build your own Eastern Screech Owl nest box: <a href="https://cavitynesters21.eventbrite.com/">https://cavitynesters21.eventbrite.com</a></li> </ul> <p><strong>Learn more:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Helping Cavity-Nesters in Florida - <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW058" target="_blank">https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW058</a></li> <li>All About Birdhouses: Next Box Placement - <a href="https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/nest-box-placement/">https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/nest-box-placement/</a></li> <li>Bird Buddies - <a href="http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pinellasco/2021/10/11/bird-buddies/">http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pinellasco/2021/10/11/bird-buddies/</a></li> </ul> <p><strong>How You Can Help:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Provide snags </strong>– Snags are standing dead trees, and they provide excellent natural habitat for cavity nesters. Primary cavity nesters, like woodpeckers will seek out dying trees to excavate as this wood is usually softer and easier to chip away.</li> <li><strong>Build or install an artificial nest box ­</strong>– It’s important to build the right house for the right bird. There are many factors to consider when constructing a nest box. Be sure to check out <a href="http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pinellasco/2021/10/11/bird-buddies/">our blog</a> for more details.</li> <li><strong>Provide other forms of shelter</strong> <strong>– </strong>Native plants of various heig