Nurturing garden wildlife - a beginners guide to bird boxes and nesting
Bird boxes are a great addition to any garden, enabling your family to enjoy the sights and sounds of Britains wild birds through most of the year. They also make fantastic Christmas presents!
In this handy guide, we answer some frequently asked questions about nesting and bird boxes, before looking at a selection of products to suit a range of gardens.
When should you put up a bird box?
At any time you want to! Whilst traditionally, people tend to put up nest boxes in the spring, so that birds have somewhere to nest during the breeding season “ birds need somewhere to roost all year round.
Putting a nest box in your garden now will provide a welcome winter refuge for birds at a time when they need it most. Chances are that if you provide them with somewhere for the winter, theyll stay through spring and summer next year as well to raise their chicks!
What kind of bird box do I need?
Simply put, it completely depends on the kind of birds you want to attract to your garden, and the space you have. At Keen Gardener, we supply a wide range of bird boxes designed to cater to a selection of common UK bird species, and can provide advice on the right box for your garden.
Where should I put my nest box?
When it comes to choosing a home, birds are like people “ its all about location, location, location! There are several things you should consider when choosing where to position your bird box.
Whilst nest boxes can be positioned on trees, walls and buildings, you need to find a location that provides:
- A safe, comfortable and quiet environment
- Shelter from the wind and rain
- Protection from predators (cats, rats, weasels and birds of prey)
Ideal garden locations will be fairly high up, to deter predators in a quiet, sheltered position, which has a clear flight path to it. Avoid placing your bird box too close to your bird table or feeder, as unwanted visitors may disturb your residents.
Do I need to do anything to the nest box?
Bird boxes are fairly low maintenance, but do need to be cleaned out once a year, in the autumn, when the birds have flown the nest.
To clean out a bird box, check to ensure that it is no longer occupied, then sweep out the nest and debris, making sure that it is thoroughly clean and ready for its next inhabitants.
5 of the best nest boxes
Sturdy, flexible and functional, the beautiful cabin nester is constructed from FSC approved timber, and features a fully lined roof for additional waterproofing. It also features a removable front door to make it suitable for a wide variety of different birds.
Suitable for a range of small UK birds, this attractive contemporary bird box is well suited to modern buildings and gardens.
Great for attracting nesting house martins to your home, this ceramic, natural shaped nest box is designed to fit securely under the eaves of your house. Face North or East for maximum appeal.
Great for the serious twitcher, this innovative nest box is designed to give you unparalleled access to the lives of its inhabitants, thanks to a robust, high quality internal camera. The camera can be connected to a range of recording devices, so you can create your own, home grown and personalised version of Springwatch.
Suitable for a wide range of small UK birds, a full colour version is also available.
Perfect for those with large, wooded gardens, this box is designed to attract one of the UKs most majestic birds of prey “ the barn owl. With a good landing platform, and expansive inside area for nesting, its also suitable for a range of other woodland birds.
Sturdy, lightweight and easy to fit, it should be fitted to a mature tree or sturdy structure, close to woodland.
How we can help
For further information on nesting or any of our bird boxes, get in touch today on 01789 763336.