Bird box

I would like to put up a bird nesting box. It would also be nice to have a camera so that the children can see what's going on. I once had a box up for several years that was never used in all that time.

I have 2 prospective sights.


My preference is to put it under eves of the summer house. This is the same area of the garden where the feeding areas and bird bath are. The trouble here is it faces south west and directly into the afternoon sun. Maybe if it were set back far enough, the roof would cast a big enough shadow. I shall monitor it.


The 2nd choice is here. This faces north. The original box that wasn't visited sat roughly where the light is now. The main problem here is that the cat likes to walk on this roof. At some point I am planning to put a clock somewhere on this gable end.

The other alternative would be here.

This sits next to the dark coloured shed. It too faces north .

My birthday is coming up soon and it might be something to ask for. Any help would be appreciated.

G.

 

Nice idea.

 

Best of luck whatever you choose.

Birds are always looking for somewhere secluded. If there's any sort of traffic. then they won't use it. with bird boxes they prefer a bit of height.

We put a "robin nest box" in this euonymus three years ago, but it's never been used. We thought it was the ideal place, near the top of the fence high enough up to be out of reach of cats.

 

My garden is small. It might be a bit busy.

G.

 

Tit boxes should face north or east and have a clear flight line. South and west facing get too hot, unless well shaded. You are too late for this year. Nearby cover is desirable.

 

Apparently they prefer near trees if possible to give cover when flying in and out, so your last picture with the hazel or beech branch would probably be better.

 

I have two Tit boxes in use, one facing north-east the other facing south-east. 6ft is the ideal height from the ground. I have one attached to my house wall the other to a large Beech tree.

Jack, my late mum used to breed parakeets and various foreign birds. The ideal thing to keep cats off her aviary roofs were thorny rose cuttings.

 

I have just the one bird box that I can see from kitchen window. Fascinating to see
Gary has enthused me to put up a couple more

 

We have starlings, blackbirds, blue tits, robins, sparrows, wagtails and dunnocks visiting our various feeders every day and they "queue up" to use the bird bath or the fountain. We've no idea where they nest.


"I think that's the way they like it."

 

I'm starting to think that my garden might be be too noisy. It's a shame. It would have been nice.

G.

 

@Jack Sparrow, my garden isn't to big either, have loads of feeders and loads of feathered visitors and furry visitors too, I did try some nesting boxes for blue tits some time ago and although a couple of coal tits starting to take nesting material in they never nested I think there were just to many of the wrong birds about i.e. crows and magpies, I was resigned to not having boxes but having sparrows nesting in the roof i put up what was a 3 sparrow terrace but now a single box and it's taken every year I think there is a third brood in there at the moment. It's on the back wall of my house and about 4ft above my back door and the sparrows don't mind at all, I don't know if your house walls are an option but if they are you could possibly think about sparrows or house martins.

 

I read that including all of the above some prefer a lower site preferably north east. the entrance hole also is a consideration unless your welcoming Robins. (open fronted) I placed an open front nester on the fence about 5 foot off the ground and fully masked by a large dense bush with Jasmine intertwined. Robins use this year on year. Now I know you're supposed to clean your nestboxes but I have never bothered and the birds don't seem to mind. I have made another ornamental box this year much lower to the floor, same facing, so we'll see if anything takes this up next year...I made the hole 32mm as for a sparrow...but sparrows tend to nest in groups so we'll see next year when the box ages somewhat. The dish will be planted with sempervivum, The clematis, and rhododendron still have to fill that space in the fence and if nothing arrives we still have the Robins.

 

I also have noisy dogs which might be a problem.

I will take a photo of another alternative position later this evening.

G.

 

I could in theory secure a box onto one of the timbers at the side of the house. I'm not good with heights so I wouldn't want to put it too high. This side faces mostly west and a bit north. It really only gets the sun on sunny summer evenings. The main trouble with this location would be the movement of the cars.

G.

 

@Jack Sparrow that looks like a great spot, birds will soon get used to any comings and goings, the nest box I have up gets disturbed by the window cleaners but they stay in the box or out of it until they've gone.