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Monday, 15 May 2006 |
Bird boxesBird boxes are usualy used by birds in brooding
season as it is the time when birds will be looking for a suitable
place to nest as it is always usfull to be protected from any dangers
from gale force winds to the neighbourhood cat.
Bird boxesNest boxes in gardens are often occupied by blue tits or great tits
Try
to get your nest boxes in position as early as possible, preferably at
the beginning of January. Our blue tits started making exploratory
visits in mid February. Each year on St. Valentine's Day - 14th
February - the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) launches its
National Nest Box Week, with the aim of encouraging people to put up
nest boxes to help breeding birds and other wildlife.
Many
decorative bird boxes are totally unsuitable for parent birds and their
families. Bird boxes designed as an integral part of a bird table are
unlikely to be occupied. It would be like living above a fast food
take-away! Choose a quiet and undisturbed part of your garden for the
completed box.
If you do decide to make your own bird box make
sure that the entrance hole is at least 12.5 cm from the floor of the
box to keep the young chicks safe from predators. A hole diameter of 25
mm will allow blue tits, coal tits and marsh tits to enter the box. Use
28 mm for great tits and 32 mm for house sparrows, tree sparrows and
nuthatches.
Use brass screws to fasten everything together and
also screwed on the roof to allow access to the nest box camera and to
enable the nest to be removed at the end of the season, in either
October or November.
Water based preservatives may be used on
the outside of the box only. Keep any preservative away from the
entrance hole, as birds often tap this regularly with their beak before
deciding whether to occupy.
Drill a couple of small holes in the base to keep the nest dry.
Hang
the box at least two metres off the ground, preferably between north
and east to avoid strong sunlight. If fixing the nestbox to a tree it's
preferable to use thick wire on the hangers rather than fixing with
nails. If you find the birds pecking at the entrance hole, it does not
mean that the hole is too small.
Do not inspect the nest box
when in use, as the parents may desert the eggs or chicks. The
completed nest box, minus roof but with its hanging supports, can be
seen here. Young bird chicks need live food. Mealworms can be a true
life saver if the spring is cold and wet. |
