Have just this minute seen a blue tit taking an interest in the nest box we put up a few days ago.
It half entered the box then flew off.
Now I have seen a sparrow taking an interest in the same bird box.
Perhaps next year I should put up some nest boxes with smaller holes. Perhaps.
We may get all 5 nest boxes being used this year.
The roof felt has come away from the flat porch roof and some sparrows have build a nest inside. They perch on the spouting and seem at home hopping in and out of the roof space. Instead of a neat porch roof we have twigs and old grass coming through the gap. I think nature is taking over round here.
It is certainly the nesting season. The memories of the long hard winter will soon be long gone.
WHERE SHOULD A BOX BE PLACED?
We’ve just put a nest box. Maybe should have put it up earlier, but this is one of the jobs that got forgotten. Will be interesting to see if it is used this year. It looks very neat among all the old nest boxes
One of the reasons I chose this nest box was because it only had one nail fastening the lid down, so it should be easy to open when we clean it out at the end of summer.
Did I do right? The nest box lid is not sealed from the elements. There was one that had a tile roof and was really fastened down but I could not see how it could be cleaned out.
Any advice is welcome from anyone who reads this.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Another reason I chose this nest box is because it has openings at the base that will let any rain run out of the box – so keep the nest box dry.
I have heard of fledgling drowning in nest boxes when the rain enters and slowly fills the nest box, But again – have I chosen the right nest box. Should I have got one where the base was totally sealed. Again any knowledge, tips and advice welcome.
-0-0-0-0-0-0
New nest box waiting for a family
I have never been able to afford a camera nest box as I seem to spend enough money on bird food and don’t have any left for such a luxury
If you would like to treat yourselves to a nest box that also have a camera in why not try this reasonaly prices Gardman Camera Nest Box
Gardman have a good reputation in bird food and bird care
I thought I would put some notes about nest boxes as they are important.
There seems to be less natural nesting sites and putting a nest box up is more important than ever to help our garden birds.
Early January (or any time in winter) is a good time to put a nest box up because a lot of birds choose their nest sites early and also use nest boxes as roosts.
In most cases it is best to use a simple wooden box with opening lid. If the Bird Box has a lid that opens it makes it easy when cleaning out after the nesting season.
In February it will be National Nest Box Week but you don’t have to wait until then to put up a nest box.
More information on Nest Boxes to follow
-0-0-0-0-0-0
Now is a good time to put up a nest box. It gives birds somewhere to roosts on a night and is ready for Spring when they will use it for nesting.
I’ve been finding out about Cedar Wood Nest Boxes and they seem really good.
To find our more click the link below
A reader has recently asked me ‘
Should I clean out the old nesting materials from the nest box, or just leave it,
The answer is that it is best to clean nest boxes out This is sometimes not a nice job, but it is an important job.
It is easier if you have a nest box that opens up. We did not realise this when we bought our first nest box. Now, if I am thinking about buying a nest box I always look to see how it opens.
How you clean the nest box depends on
We manage to take our nest boxes down, but I don’t do it on my own – I get help to get the nest boxes down.
I get a pair of old washing up gloves, plenty of hot water and some sort of scrubbing brush / cloth.
It is a good ides to do it now as when the really old weather comes birds may be using the empty nest box to roost and in cleaning the nest box out then would disturb them.
Birds need shelter from wind, rain, snow and freezing weather – winters can be long and hard for birds. Some birds stay for 16 hours a day in their roost – which could be the nest box that you bought.
Please get in touch if you have any top tips or have any questions. Looking after birds is like having pets sometimes isn’t it?
Am looking into getting a bird camera box. It would be a treat to see the garden birds that come to my feeder actually in a bird box feeding their young!
Have been wondering which bird camera box would suit me best.
Here are some questions I have thought of
Do all bird camera boxes have sound?
Which one is easiest to clean out?
Are there different ways to wire one up?
Do the bird camera boxes come fully assembled
How long is any cable that comes with the bird camera box
How do you connect it to the computer / television. Do you need a special cable, or nail or drill?
I have found out that there are two ways of wiring them. One is by wireless and the other is with a wire.
CamNest.UK is an online shop that sell bird camera boxes. They do not sell wireless boxes any more though – because of quality picture reasons.
The prices vary as well. This would be a present to myself, so will find out more before I decide which bird camera box to get.
Any advice or knowledge would be welcome.
This nest box has been attacked.
I do not know what type of wood the nest box is made of but it is thinner than the usual nest boxes that I buy. This photograph was taken last year when it was fine and sunny.
Predator has been trying to get at the eggs or chicks
Woodpeckers drill an entrance with their chisel beaks
I think that is what has happened in the photo above.
It’s a case of bird eating bird again.
Squirrels, weasels, cats, crows and great spotted woodpeckers are among the predators of birds.
Our garden birds are subject to attack from ground and air.
I do have other nest boxes that are stronger which have not been attacked.
There are ‘guards’ that can be put over a bird box entrance hole.
These plastic guards cost £5.99 and these seem a good idea as they stop predators attacking the actual bird box entrance. Take a look at how to purchase the BIRD GUARDIAN
Tough woodcrete nest boxes are very good as predators cannot make the entrance holE larger so they cannot get to the eggs or chicks inside – which is what has happened in our nest box in the photo
£23.99 plus delivery charges – it will last years and as well as giving protection to the birds inside it gives a good insulation which helps chicks in the nest during their vulnerable time in the nest.
To find out all about the Schwegler 3 Hole Nest Box CLICK HERE
It is National Nest Box Week
Many species of birds come into gardens in winter to feed, but in some gardens they cannot stay and nest because there isn’t anywhere suitable for them to nest.
A good idea is to put up nest boxes. Modern houses are built without any of the nooks and crannies under the eaves in which birds nest.
Bird boxes come in all shapes and sizes to suit all shapes and sizes of birds.
The ‘ front door’ opening of nest boxes vary to attract different types of birds.
It doesn’t matter if you are just casually interested in birds, putting up a nest box is a good idea. The sight and sound of young birds in your garden will always lift your spirits.
Last summer I watched two small fledgling sparrows sitting on a fence together. I made me realise that our actions can help birds!
The gardens in this country have an area much bigger than all our nature reserves put together so the ability for us to use our gardens as nesting sites for birds is enormous so go out and buy a nest box and help the next generation of our British Garden Birds.
Why not take a look at the nest boxes that Garden Bird Supplies have
