Woodlink Cedar Winter Roosting/Shelter Box

High quality and very versatile. Having the hole at the bottom of the front for winter use also closes the air gap at the top so it keeps warm air from escaping. The box is tight and dry during winter, and the mesh on the back is good for downy woodpeckers to cling to at night while chickadeess and nuthatches perch on the ladder.. Flip the door upside down at the end of winter, remove the ladder and you've got a great nesting box for summer. Now you leave a 1/2 inch gap between the top of the box front and the roof. It is protected from rain but lets warm air escape on hot days. The mesh on the inside of the front door works to help nestlings climb up the face of the box to get out of the entrance hole. The inside of the box is smooth enough for easy cleaning, and the slightly rough wood grain on the outside is ideal for cavity-nesting birds to cling to. No perches are provided on the outside as cavity nesting birds don't need them and they just attract predators like bluejays. The roof has enough slope to discourage cats from perching there as well as shedding rain and snow. Birding sites recommend allowing the wood to age naturally (instead of staining or painting) as the birds prefer the natural wood color. The cedar, even untreated, will last for many, many years.

We love all our wild birds, so when we saw these finch boxes we had to buy a couple. They're described to give finches a place they can be safe & warm as they're able to huddle together in these boxes on several long perches inside. I love that we can help keep them out of the cold winter winds. They are sturdy made and the wood is natural as it should be for all birds "houses".We'll see if there's flying activity of finches around this area. We can't see the boxes as they're on back side of tool shed under an eave facing South & 5 to 8 feet off the ground.One thing we've learned is to leave any bird houses/boxes alone & not bother them.I've put up 2 pics so you can check them out. These were put up today (in December).

To be clear, when converting from a shelter to a nesting box, the door cannot be "flipped" until you loosen or remove the two upper side screws that act as a hinge. Then remove the the door, take out the ladder, turn the door 180 degrees so the entrance hole is on the top. Leave the 1/2" space at the top for warm air to escape. Then you need to screw in the upper side hinge screws with a little force, as there are no pre-drilled holes in the door you've just flipped. Also I don't like putting nails or screws in my trees, so I used bungie cords at the bottom and top. I made sure that the bungie cord did not block the 1/2 heat escape space.

I do not have a large area for bird houses. I wanted something that would double as a bird house in summer and a roost for them during the winter. This is the perfect solution. It is up now as a bird house. When it gets cold, I will turn the door around and it becomes an area to protect the birds from winter weather. The removable ladder that goes inside provides multi-levels for several birds to use as perches so they can huddle together. I cannot speak about durability because I have only had it up a few weeks, but I am very happy with it right now.

Seems sturdy and well made. Has the option to change it to a bluebird nesting box which is a plus. Looking forward to putting them up and watch for the birdies taking shelter.

The media could not be loaded.  I flip the front plate around. leave a 5/8' air vent. Well built. solid with LOTS OF ROOM for large broods. GET a VAN ERT Trap and a BLINK camera for this box so that you can keep non native Tree Sparrows at bay.Its not a cheap box. But LARGE and well built. I am lazy.

very impressive with No inferior wood using Cedar and door easily changes into summer nesting box

This product was made nice. Problem is the smell of cedar.Birds poke their heads in soon to fly away.Had house for almost 1 1/2 months but no results yet.Hopefully the smell will eventually wear off..Smells awesome for humans but not for our birds in Thibodaux,La…I should have waited to post this review..we now have a sparrow family living in this birdhouse. I’m elated…2 months after we put house up..She they s does get a 5 star !!!

In the winter the birds love it for roosting, in the spring they're nesting (once I flip over the door).The only downside I suppose is that house sparrows get to it before more awesome birds do, so maybe wait until later in the spring to flip over the door to nesting box mode.I've had bluebirds, finches, sparrows, and even a steller's jay check it out.They ignored it for months after I put it up but they can't seem to get enough of it now.

My roosting box arrived today and I am very excited to get it out there for all the little birds!! It is very well constructed and has a removable ladder and wired mesh in two places so that birds can maneuver around and find comfortable places to perch. I also like that it is dual purpose- a roost and a nesting site. It can be converted into a bird nesting house by removing the ladder and removing the front door and turning it around so that the hole is at the top. It has a small space at the bottom for drainage and it can be easily opened for cleaning. One suggestion - please add a metal portal protector to the front opening.

Quality product

The roosting box is made from cedar. The bottom edges are quite "chewed up" It looks like the wood may splinter more as time goes on. We shall see.

After months and moving the house around to different locations it still hasn’t attracted any birds. Presently used as winter haven but still no takers. I should have returned it.