Birds, Mammals and Wildlife Gardening – Next Boxes

Winter work

Fix your nest box one and a half to five metres above ground level but make sure it doesn’t face into strong sunlight, prevailing winds or rain. Ensure also that it is out of the reach of cats and set away from perches or supports that could be used by other predators. If it is too close to your bird table potential occupants will reject it as being too risky because other birds will approach too close to the nestlings on their way to get food. You also need to avoid siting boxes too close together or you will end up with male aggression from rival breeding couples

When you choose a box, pay attention to the entrance size as this determines the species that will use the box:

• 25 mm hole size – blue tits and other tits.
• 32mm hole size – both kinds of sparrow and the nuthatch
• 45mm hole size – starlings!
• 200mm hole size –dove, tawny owls and jackdaws.
• Open front – robins, wren (only if the box is well hidden in shrubbery or ivy).

Spring

When monitoring nests, remember the adult will desert the nest if disturbed. Try not to disturb nearby growth so you may find you need to hold back on clipping or pruning plants or even mowing the lawn in certain areas. When fledglings appear, do not approach them, even if they are on the ground and calling, because the parents will desert them.

Autumn work

Each autumn, check the boxes are vacant, take them down, clean with hot water and a mild animal-friendly detergent and replace.

Birds, mammals and wildlife gardening nestbox photograph by aubergene, used under a creative commons attribution licence

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