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Photo © Al Tuttle

When can I use an existing site for a new nest attempt, and when should I create a new nest site?

Identical nests where the same exact nest site location can be used for multiple attempts include:

  • nests in the same nest box, and the nest box hasn’t been moved or adjusted
  • nests in the same fork of the same tree branch
  • nests in the same clump of grass (where a “clump” is something with a diameter of not more than 6″)
  • nests in different nest boxes, when one box is replaced on the same pole by a different box of the same approximate size
  • A second nest built on top of the first by the same (or a different) species

If a nest is not in the exact, identical location as a previous nest, then a new nest site should be created. Cases where you should create distinct or new sites include:

  • nests in the same nest box, but the box has been moved any distance away from its original location
  • nests in the same nest box, and the nest box hasn’t been moved, but the height of the box has been raised by 12 inches or more
  • there are two nests on different forks of the same tree branch
  • nests in two different cavities in the same snag, but at different heights in the trunk
  • nests in two cavities in the same snag at the same height, but on different sides of the trunk
  • nests in two clumps of grass that are 12 inches apart or more
  • nests on the same rafter in a barn, and are 12 inches apart or more
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Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell Lab of Ornithology