Boulder Canyon Trail Birdhouses
An Eagle Scout project completed and compiled by Alex Holland from Troop 4 on May 2020.
Birdhouses have been placed along the Boulder Canyon Trail using a sustainable method and are marked with dots that correlate to the identified species, entry hole size, and hole distance to floor.
1 Dot = Tufted Titmouse
The tufted titmouse (Baeolophus Bicolor) is a small, gray-plumed songbird that can easily be recognized by the crest of gray feathers atop its head, its big black eyes, black forehead and its rustcolored Hanks. They are quite common throughout the eastern part of North America.
Height: 6-7 inches
Weight= .60 -.90 ounces
Color= Gray
2 Dots = Brown Headed Nuthatch
The Brown-headed Nuthatch is a tiny, compact bird. It appears rather round thanks to its short tail, legs, and neck. It also has a chisel-like bill that looks a little too big for its body. This bird is white below and gray above with a brown head. Finer inspection reveals a white spot on the back of the head and small white spots in the tail that are visible in flight.
Height: 4 inches
Weight: .3 ounces
Color: White/Grey
3 Dots = Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpeckers are small versions of the classic wood pecker body plan. They have a straight chisel-like bill, blocky head, wide shoulders, and straight-backed posture as they lean away from tree limbs and onto their tail feathers. Downy Woodpeckers give a checkered black and white impression. Males have a small red patch on the back of the head.
Height: 7-8 Inches
Weight: .75-1 ounce
Color: Black/White/Red
4 Dots = White Breasted Nuthatch
The white-breasted nuthatch is a small songbird of the nuthatch family common across much of temperate North America. It is stocky, with a large head , short tail, powerful bill , and strong feet. It has a black cap, white face, chest, and flanks, blue-gray upper body, and a chestnut lower belly.
Height: 5-6 Inches
Weight: .75-1 ounce
Color: Blue/Black/White
5 Dots = Carolina Wren
The Carolina Wren is a small but chunky bird with a round body and a long tail that it often cocks upward. The heads is large with very little neck, and the distinctive bill marks it s a wren: long, slender, and down-curved. This wren often cocks its tail upward while foraging and holds it down when singing. Carolina Wrens defend their territories with constant singing: they aggressively scold and chase off intruders.
Height: 4.5-5.5 Inches
Weight: .6-.8 ounce
Color: Tan/White streaks
