Our local Wild Birds Unlimited store has metal plates of various sizes to help reinforce the hole sizes for wooden nest boxes. You might check there if you have one.
Peggy Livingston
Sent via iPhone
> On Feb 8, 2026, at 12:47 PM, Christopher Hill <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I have a box that Great Crested Flycatchers nest in every spring and summer. In the winter some squirrel always makes it their personal project to enlarge the hole and turn it into a squirrel nest. I would like to install a metal guard with 1 5/8" hole (or whatever, I'd have to go back and check the proper diameter) to prevent a third re-occurrence when I reclaim the box for flycatchers this spring. Just a piece of sheet metal with a hole and no sharp edges or burrs (so I don't want to try freehanding with tin snips, for example). Googling doesnm't work for any combination of words I have come up with - infinite places wanting to sell you baffles for a pole, but no metal hole guards. Anybody have an idea or a source?
>
> CH
>
> Chris Hill, Ph.D.
> Professor
> Biology Department
> Coastal Carolina University
> Office: Douglas 207H
> (843) 349-2567
> email: <chill...>
>
