Hawk houses provide a safe place for hawks to nest and raise their young. Installing a hawk house in your yard or property can help encourage these amazing birds of prey to take up residence. Having hawks around offers free and natural rodent control, as hawks prey on mice, voles, rats, and other pests. This article will provide step-by-step instructions on how to build and install your own DIY hawk house. We’ll cover picking the right location, choosing materials, constructing the house, and tips for attracting hawks after setup. With a little time and effort, you can create an ideal hawk home!
Benefits of Hawk Houses
There are many advantages to putting up a hawk house:
– Natural pest control – Hawks are excellent hunters and will help keep rodent populations in check around your property. This eliminates the need for chemical pesticides.
– Free service – Letting hawks handle pest control is completely free after the initial house installation. No expensive exterminator fees required!
– Environmental benefits – Rodents can damage gardens, spread diseases, and contaminate food supplies. Keeping their numbers down improves the health of your local ecosystem.
– Hawk watching – If hawks take up residence, you’ll be able to observe their fascinating behaviors and hunting skills up close. Watching hawk parents raise their young is an unforgettable experience.
– Help threatened species – Some hawk species like Barn Owls are threatened. Putting up raptor houses provides nesting sites to support their populations.
As you can see, installing a hawk house lets you enjoy natural pest control while also supporting wildlife conservation. It’s a win-win for both homeowners and local hawk populations looking for safe nesting sites.
Choosing a Location
Picking the right spot to install a hawk house is key to attracting raptors. Here are some tips on choosing a good location:
– Place high up – Hawks like nesting high above the ground for safety. Options include tall trees, poles, or the top of a barn or shed. 20-30 feet high or more is ideal.
– Good visibility – Hawks hunt using keen eyesight, so choose a location with wide open sight lines of your property. This lets them easily spot potential prey.
– Away from trees – Large branches or trees too close to the house could enable predators like raccoons to access the nest. Open areas are best.
– Morning sun – Houses positioned where they get sun in the morning but shade in hot afternoons are preferred. Avoid excessively hot western exposures.
– Sheltered areas – Protection from strong winds and wet weather will make the house more appealing. Overhangs, covered porches, or garages are good options.
Take the time to observe hawk activity in your area during nesting season to identify sites they tend to gravitate towards. South-facing locations are often ideal in northern climates.
Choosing Materials
You’ll need appropriate wooden boards, brackets, and screening to construct your hawk house. Here are some material considerations:
– Untreated pine wood – Avoid chemicals like pressure treated lumber that could be toxic. 3/4 inch boards are sufficiently sturdy.
– Weather resistant wood – Cedar and redwood are naturally rot resistant. This is important for outdoor exposure.
– Galvanized brackets – Choose galvanized steel over plain steel brackets to prevent rusting.
– 1/2 inch wire mesh – Metal screening with 1/2 inch openings allows drainage while keeping predators out.
– Roofing felt – Provide a waterproof barrier under shingles with 30 pound felt paper.
– Roof shingles – Standard asphalt shingles in dark colors provide weather protection and a finished look.
– Wood glue/screws – Use exterior grade wood glue and galvanized deck screws to assemble the house.
– Wood finish – A natural stain enhances durability and blends the house into its surroundings.
Shop at your local hardware store for the required building supplies. Many items can be found pre-cut and ready to assemble.
Tools You’ll Need
Having the right tools on hand will make constructing a hawk house much simpler. Here are some must-have tools for this project:
– Circular or jig saw – For cutting boards to size
– Drill/driver – For driving screws to assemble the house
– Hammer – For nailing roofing felt and shingles
– Tape measure – For measuring and cutting materials
– Level – For ensuring corners are square and plumb
– Ladder/scaffold – For accessing installation sites 20+ feet up
– Safety equipment – Gloves, goggles, hard hat for working overhead
– Sandpaper – For smoothing cut edges of wooden boards
– Utility knife – For cutting mesh screening and roofing paper
– Caulking gun – For waterproofing seams prior to final assembly
Having this basic toolkit makes building a hawk house relatively straightforward. Ask at your local tool rental center if you need to borrow any items. Safety is paramount when working at height, so use all recommended safety gear.
Constructing the House
With your materials and tools gathered, you’re ready to start construction. Follow these steps:
1. Cut boards to required dimensions – Cut side boards, roof boards, and front/back panels to size according to your plans.
2. Pre-drill screw holes – Drill pilot holes for screws to prevent cracking boards during assembly.
3. Attach sides to base – Use waterproof wood glue and galvanized screws to attach the four side boards to the plywood base. Ensure corners are square.
4. Add front panel – Glue and screw the front board in between the sides. Cut access hole if needed.
5. Attach back – Complete box by attaching the full back board last.
6. Add roof boards – Align roof boards across the top and screw into underlying boards.
7. Install wire mesh – Staple 1/2″ mesh screening across bottom front with access hole for entry.
8. Add roofing felt – Cover roof boards with 30 lb roofing felt using a utility knife.
9. Install shingles – Align asphalt shingles on roof building up layers. Hammer down carefully.
10. Caulk gaps – Seal any remaining gaps with exterior caulk to make watertight.
Sand any rough edges and apply natural waterproofing stain once assembled. Now it’s ready for installation!
Installing the House
Once constructed, it’s time to get your hawk house properly installed in position. Here’s how to get it securely mounted high up:
– Attach mounting pole – A 20+ foot 4×4 treated pole can be buried deep in the ground and braced with guy wires for support.
– Utilize existing structures – Houses can also be mounted atop shed roofs, on sides of barns, or attached to tall trees using large brackets.
– Use lift equipment – Rent a telescopic boom lift or hire professional tree climbers for tricky installations high up. Safety is paramount.
– Secure tightly – Use robust lag bolts and multiple points of attachment for a sound installation able to withstand winds and weather.
– Face right direction – Ensure house is oriented right way around for entry hole, drainage, and ideal sun exposure as planned.
– Clear line of sight – Prune back any branches or obstructions that might block a hawk’s line of sight to the ground for hunting.
The hawk house should now be firmly fixed in its ideal position, oriented correctly, ready for feathered tenants to move in!
Attracting Hawks
It may take a bit of time for hawks to discover and get accustomed to your new raptor house. Here are some tips to make it more attractive:
– Add nesting material – Line the floor with wood chips, straw, or shavings to encourage nest building.
– Provide perches – Hawks like to perch and survey before entering a nest. Add an outdoor perching pole.
– Eliminate other threats – Ensure the house is safely out of reach from predators. Remove any other problematic nest sites.
– Let them adjust – It may take multiple seasons for hawks to fully acclimate to the house. Be patient.
– Reduce disturbances – Keep noise and activity around the house to a minimum early in the nesting season.
– Enhance habitat – Ensure there is good forested hunting habitat around your property to provide food sources.
With the right placement and habitat, local hawks should eventually warm up to their new digs. Then you can enjoy observing hawk families thrive for years to come!
Maintenance Tips
Once your hawk house is set up, be sure to do periodic maintenance:
– Monitor for issues – Watch for any signs of damage, rot, or instability and address immediately.
– Clean out old nests – After young have fledged each season, clean out old nesting material to prepare for reuse.
– Check roofing – Make sure roof shingles remain in good shape and haven’t become dislodged.
– Assess mounts – Ensure all brackets, poles, and mounting hardware are still secure with no loosening.
– Touch up paint/stain – Freshen up any fading stain or paint to keep the wood protected.
– Trim vegetation – Keep nearby trees and branches trimmed back from encroaching on the house.
– Adjust as needed – If issues arise with the original position, it may be possible to relocate the house over time.
Taking care of your hawk house will ensure it provides safe nesting sites summer after summer. The small upkeep effort is well worth it for the joy of watching hawks raise their families.
Potential Problems
Despite best efforts, you may occasionally encounter issues with your hawk house. Here are some potential problems and solutions:
Predators – Raccoons, snakes, or owls may try to access the house and eggs. Reinforce security and eliminate alternate nesting spots.
Territorial hawks – Existing hawks may attack or drive off newcomers. Try relocating the house or leaving it vacant for a season.
Prey shortage – Without ample food supplies, hawks will hunt elsewhere. Boost habitat and rodent numbers.
Wasp nests – Wasps may occupy the house. Carefully remove any nests as soon as noticed.
Rotting wood – Use the most weather-resistant wood possible and apply preservatives to prevent decay.
Blow down damage – Extreme winds can displace the house or knock it off of mounts. Secure it as sturdily as possible.
Address any problems promptly and make adjustments to try to provide the best nesting experience in future seasons. Don’t get discouraged!
Conclusion
Installing your own hawk house takes some handy skills and physical effort, but is a very rewarding project. Following these guidelines will give you the best chance of attracting hawks to utilize the nest box. The benefits of enjoying natural pest control and fascinating hawk behaviors make it well worth the effort. Be sure to observe best practices for raptor conservation and safety whenever making a hawk house. If built and sited properly, your hawk house will be a neighborhood attraction providing a productive nesting habitat for years to come. The majestic sight of hawks gracing your property will be a point of pride and connection with nature.