Thank you, Edgar. My father put a lot of work into building that Martin house. Unfortunately, it has never attracted a Martin colony and probably never will -- too many trees in too close proximity.
I built the Woodduck box and it, too; hasn't attracted what it was intended for. This past year a pair of squirrels raised 3 little ones in it. That entire family of 5 squirrels are now making it their winter abode. Despite the galvanized stove pipe on the post they gain access to the box from the apple tree. I tried cutting back the apple tree -- making it about a 5 foot leap to the box, but they still come and go as if there's no deterrent.
