Pole Options

What should nest boxes be mounted on?
  • You've determined the best spots at your project site for boxes, spots where
    competition from other species and exposure to nest predators should be low.
  • This page (Pole Options) and the next (Mounting Boxes on Poles) should help
    you put your boxes up.  
  • In our opinion metal poles make the best box supports, and we'll present two
    metal pole options: steel pipe and conduit/rebar.
  • Please note, we don't recommend wooden poles or snow-fence poles.  Wooden
    poles are easy for predators to climb and can rot.  Snow-fence poles are also
    easy to climb and generally too short, allowing predators to jump to boxes.





















Pole Option 1:  Steel Pipe.
  • We have used steel pipe for many years and are quite satisfied.
  • Material needed: 1/2" interior diameter steel pipe cut to 8-1/2' lengths.  
  • Most building supply or hardware stores will cut pipe to size if bought there.
  • Galvanized finish or black painted finish are equally okay.



















  • We dig a hole roughly 2-1/2' deep, which leaves 6' of pole above ground.
  • Then we backfill with dirt, using rocks to keep the pole from tipping.














Pole Option 2:  Conduit/Rebar.
  • We have not used this system ourselves yet but are including it on the
    recommendation of others.  We plan to trial it in 2010.
  • Conduit/rebar poles are not as strong as steel pipe, but are cheaper and much
    easier to put up and take down.




















  • Materials needed:
  • 4' or 5' pieces of steel reinforcing bars (rebar) (below left).
  • 1/2" metal electrical conduit tubing (below left) cut to 6'.
  • Conduit is thin-walled and easily cut by hacksaw.
  • 1/2" conduit couplers (below right).
  • Attention: One coupler set-screw must be replaced by a longer screw (lower
    screw in picture).


















  • Drive rebar about 1/2 its length into the ground.  No digging required.











  • Attach conduit coupler short screw end firmly to conduit (see below).

  • Slip conduit over rebar, coupler end first, until coupler contacts the ground.















  • Tighten the long coupler screw very firmly onto rebar.  This prevents the
    conduit pole (and nest box) from pivoting.













Click here for Next Step: Mounting Boxes on Poles.







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