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How Do I Build a Winter Nest Box for a Roadrunner?

Roadrunners are commonly found in the southwest regions of North America but they have spread throughout mideastern and eastern southern regions in the last century. Roadrunners feed on spiders, scorpions, centipedes, rodents, snakes and and other pests, making them valuable to landowners. Roadrunners do not require much when it comes to nest boxes; a female roadrunner will do most of the work herself, building her nest around a simple structure in a safe location. Roadrunners rely more on the Sun than a cozy box to keep them warm during the winter months.

Things You'll Need

3/4 inch thick sheet of plywood
1 1/2 inch long wood screws
Screwdriver or power drill
Wire or rope

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a location for the nest box. Roadrunners are commonly found in semi-arid lands and deserts. They prefer their nests to be in small trees, brush, or cacti. An adult greater roadrunner can be nearly 2 feet in length, so choose the nest location accordingly.
- 2
  Cut a piece of 3/4-inch thick plywood into a square 2 feet to 2 1/2 feet on each side.
- 3
  Cut two pieces of 3/4-inch thick plywood into strips 3 3/4 inches in height and the length of your base square plus 1 1/2 inch in length.
- 4
  Cut two pieces of 3/4 inch thick plywood into strips 3 3/4 inches in height and the length of your base square in length.
- 5
  Attach the plywood strips to the base square using 1 1/2-inch long wood screws. Use one screw every 6 inches. The two longer strips should be attached to the top and bottom of the square and the two shorter strips should be attached to the right and left sides of the square. Align the bottom edge of the strips to the bottom of the base square, creating a shallow box with no top.
- 6
  Situate the shallow box in the tree, brush or cacti with the base square as level as possible. Use wire, rope or wood screws to secure the box if necessary.
- 7
  Place twigs, sticks and brush near the nest. Female roadrunners customize their nests. Plenty of nearby building components will encourage roadrunners to use the nest box you built.

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