What a great reward for some effort. I built the box as a Northern Flicker box about 10 years ago. When I had no need at home I put it up near the marsh kiosk and boardwalk hoping something might use it but knowing it looked good there.
The box has floor dimensions of 7X9 inches, and entrance hole 2.5 inches and the hole is about 12 inches up from the floor. The habitat is a birch tree with an apple near the base and lots of brush. It is actually an old cellar hole filled with brush and surrounded by fencing to provide safety for us visitors. The box faces East but mostly so everyone would get the chance to observe anything that might use it. It is facing a dirt road and across the road are the remnants of various structures abandoned long ago. There are numerous aspen trees growing there and nearby trees are mostly young deciduous with few conifers for several hundred yards.The box is about 20 ft. up in a white birch which grew up in the middle of the cellar hole. Its that height because that was as high as my ladder would extend. I can recall clearly that it looked very high from up on that ladder looking down at the tangle below me and balancing that box and my power screw driver.
This particular sighting is so easy to locate we are now concerned that visitors (well meaning and otherwise) will disturb the family. We want everyone to see it that asks and in return hope you will respect the owls and further call a game warden if you see someone else that is harassing wildlife. Our recent excellent experience with the painted bunting tells us there are more of us who want to protect birds than those who do not. Please help us do that here.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Marv Elliott
> On May 22, 2016, at 3:28 PM, G M ARCHAMBAULT <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Since word is out, out-of-staters who won't be visiting this site might appreciate a habitat description of the nest box location.  I would enjoy knowing more about the setting of the nest box -- wooded or open, etc.  Height of the nest box off the ground, direction the entry faces, shaded or in the sun, etc.  All this intelligence helps us to expand our knowledge of this species, and helps people place nest boxes to attract owls.  Thanks.  Also, generally the adult will position its day roost within line of sight of the nest, so parents might be visible with some scanning of nearby trees or tall vegetation (usually an obstructed view).  I've seen Saw-whet young in a Wood Duck box in Moraga, CA at the back edge of a meadow, with conifers/hardwoods not far away.  At that site, I noticed trampled grass, indicating photographers had approached the nest box very closely instead of remaining on the trail where sufficiently fine photos were obtainable.  Getting too close might accustom young owls to humans, which they should instead be wary of generally.  Toward dusk, best keep generous distance in case a feeding occurs early.   I'd be interested to know how close the nest is to moving cars and other activity as well -- just in case anyone else posts about this sighting.  Best, -Ken Archambault, Birmingham, Alabama    
> 
>    On Sunday, May 22, 2016 10:50 AM, Tyler Pockette <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> 
> There is a fledgling Northern Saw-whet Owl peeking its head out of the
> nesting box above the parking space at the West Rutland Marsh boardwalk.
> Normally I wouldn't post the location of a potentially nesting owl, but
> given the location is at a  popular birding destination, I think it's safe
> to say he'd be spotted eventually if he isn't already known about. Please
> be respectful of this bird.
> 
> -Tyler Pockette
> 
> 
>