Nest Box Renovations

We have 16 nest boxes on the ranch and after last year's drought and intense heat, well they needed to be repaired.  Plus last year we had several predator attack on nest boxes and lost a few birds as a result of the attacks.  We had taken some precautions to guard against predators, but they were not enough.  So I am in the process of pulling every nest box, replacing old or rotten wood and installing a 3x3 inch predator block.  I am also adding a 2 foot stove pipe below the nest with a 16 inch inverted cone about it to stop animals like squirrels, ringtails, and raccoons from climbing up the pole holding the nest box.

Put up the Martin house last week and plan to add a second pole with Gourds to see if I can attract some new birds.

Bird are emptying the feeders almost daily.  There is so little natural food out there that birds need this supplemental feeding.  My grassland 10 transect censuses earlier this week was way down from previous years.  I'm not sure where the birds are, but not out on the ranch.  I had 20-30 birds at the house feeders all today.  My other feeders out on the ranch are also emptying daily.  You get close to a feeder and you will find birds.  We just happen to get more at the ranch house due to the Oasis.