In the beginning there was wood! Enough here to build eight instrumented nest boxes for Megascops (screech owls). Plus two RodentCam platforms. The nest box design started with Cornell University’s recommended nest box design using rough untreated cedar on the interior. I modified their design with a two-inch attic for the image sensor modules, plus a facade of fake barnwood to add a more cryptic appearance than the cedar. Screech owl preference for brown or grey barnwood to be deteremined.
I should have started this story before there was wood. Before there was wood there was an outbreak of voles that was ravaging a middle school’s vegetable garden. That prompted one creative student to suggest building nest boxes for owls that could eat the voles. That initiative merged with my years-long desire to support a showcase project that highlights the scientific value of a motion-triggered data-logging system for ecological research. Future posts will describe additional initiatives that are merging with the first two. Stay tuned!
