Siting a Nest Box - Tips for a Successful Brood
Watching Birds Raise Young is Rewarding for Observer Young and Old
Feb 26, 2009
Many people put up nest boxes with good intentions but do not always consider some of the needs of their feathered friends in siting the box right. Here are some of the things to consider when putting up a box, to make things easier on the birds and maximise the chances of successful fledging of the young.
Nestbox Orientation
The box should not face into the prevailing wind and rain, and should not be exposed to the maximum force of the midday sun, which can overheat the box and its contents. The prevailing wind and rain vary according to local obstacles, so it is not possible to give a good absolute direction. However, in the Northern Hemisphere a box facing due south without shade will tend to get too much sun.
Predators
Cats are the obvious hazard here, and can jump more than three feet from a suitable surface. Boxes for hole nesters can be sited on a wall of the house at first floor height or higher to be safe from cats if there are no intermediate surfaces like bins or flat roofs they can jump from. Other predators include squirrels, which can gnaw away at the nest box hole to enlarge it and get access to the contents. This can be avoided by fitting a metal plate to the box hole, which also defeats raids by woodpeckers.
Keep a Distance from Bird Feeders and Bird Tables
Some designs even incorporate a nestbox into a bird table - proximity to feeding stations is undesirable. Nestboxes should be at least a couple of metres (six feet) away from feeding stations to keep disturbance of the nesting pair to a minimum. Likewise, the box should be a similar distance from regularly used human walkways.
Separation from Avian Neighbours
Boxes for the same species should not be sited too close together, unless the target species is known to be a colonial nesting species. But for most species a separation of about 5 to 10 metres (15-30 feet) is good between boxes of the same kind, to avoid competition and aggressive behaviour between species.Getting this right also means observing any boxes put up by people either side!
Fixing the Nestbox
Nest boxes should be fixed with galvanised screws, or brass or stainless steel screws that will not rust. Alternatively galvanised wire can secure the box to a tree, with some old garden hose over the wire to prevent it cutting into the tree, and enough slack in the wire so the tree can grow without cutting into it.
When to Put up a Nestbox
Most people put nextboxes up in the Spring, and the earlier the better - some birds start looking for nesting sites as early as February. It takes some time for birds to get used to a new box, so it may not get used in the first couple of years.
Cleaning Nestboxes out for Next Year
Putting up a bird box is a great way to enjoy one of the miracles of Spring. Following these tips will make things easier for the nesting birds, increasing the success rate. The type of box should be chosen to accommodate the types of birds seen in the area, as the habitat needs to be right for the occupants!
In the UK nestboxes can only be cleaned out between 1 August and the 31st January. Some hole nesters like sparrows can have multiple broods so it is safer to leave cleaning to the end of October.
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