Artificial Hunting Perches for Bluebirds and other species

Barn swallows take advantage of garden perches even though they hunt mainly in flight.

A high perch beside the kestrel tower was often used by the male and by both for passing prey to the female. The perch has been removed since a nearby power line serves the same purpose. At nest boxes where no other nearby perch is available, an artificial perch would be much appreciated.	A pair of tree swallows on the perch switch used to record owl visits at night. The owl's weight closed a switch wired to a homemade event recorder with a second pen that marked each minute. Luckily, modern video equipment has replaced all of that.	A kestrel hunting from a tall perch located in a meadow. The perch pole is mounted on a large iron wheel so it can be tilted on its side and rolled to a new location, much as portable fencing is used to rotate grazing plots. Observing where the kestrels hover hunt is a good indication of where to position the perch.

This perch is simply clamped to a metal fence post.	The creek bank has no shortage of natural perches, but not always where I want one.

A jar lid with drainage holes nailed to a 2x2 makes a quick and free calcium or meal worm feeding perch.	The wheel of this hay rake provides a convenient perch for this nesting mockingbird waiting to feed its young.
A hog butchering tripod can be moved wherever needed, especially if you don't wire a skull on top.	A mockingbird perches on a conveniently located pump while waiting for the photographer to leave before approaching the nest.

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