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We would like your help with a bit of market research, and so I would like you all to tell me about the nestboxes in your garden. Any thoughts about nesting boxes would be useful, but we would particularly like to hear about the following:
How long have you had a box in the garden? What sort is it - standard timber box or something fancy? Was it treated (paint or preservative) when you bought it, have you applied a treatment on it later, or is it untreated as nature intended?
If you were to buy a new box now, what would it be like? - would you have a timber box, or look out for other materials? fancy design or one that looks like a nesting box? natural look or coloured? pre-treated or plain timber?
Hi
I make my own from wood and put a waterproof covering on the top.
Made about five a couple of years ago ror friends and every one had bluetits nesting.
The secret is not to have too many as birds are territoral so leave a good distance between boxes.
When buying I find the holes are quit often too big . For bluetits the hole should not be much bigger than a 2p coin. If buying one try a 2p coin in the hole and if there is lots of play thn its too big for blue tits but will be ok for great titsetc. I had one bought in the shape of a house and wrens nested for 3 years before it fell to bits. In fact I wrote Wrented over the door.
Ray
a good laugh is better than a tonic
Sorry, I just had to express my appreciation of Ray's house name for the wrens. It really made me chuckle.
Kind regards Jane.
Have to agree Jeff!
I would like to add that my home made nestboxes have been used as much as the bought ones. It would be good to know what goes through the birds minds when they are selecting a place to make "home"
Hi Coral
Try writing on TO LET. LOL
On the serious side They choose.
I've seen boxes never cleaned out and still they nest
i make my own out of floor board wood about an inch thick with a slopeing roof untreated
have one nest box thats been used for the last six years
very differcult to attach nest boxes to trees as the tree grows and the nest box comes off
blue tits and great tits are the useually users
but last year had a mash tit use one designed for robins
the friedly bid watcher
How long have you had a box in the garden?
Around 5 were already there when we moved in around 5 years ago, bought 1 new one later on.
What sort is it - standard timber box or something fancy?
Standard blue/great tit box, in fact, most of them half rotting and falling apart.
Was it treated (paint or preservative) when you bought it, have you applied a treatment on it later, or is it untreated as nature intended?
It is just plain wood with no coating as far as I know. They all look like they're 20 year olds, and they probably are!!
I'd go for a plain simple timber box, preferbly waterproof. I like the classic nestbox, also FSC wood.
I'm currently planning on buying/making new nestboxes as only one of the 'ancient' ones are used, which, I discovered is rotting and full of wormy stuff living inside. I'd also be interested in buying robin/wren open front nestbox as I'vehad 2 robins nest in natural sites in my garden and would like to encourage them.
'Dip a dee dah, dip a dee ay, we're not seeing any birds to-day...'
I have three boxes in my garden all of which I made. Two are made from rough sawn timber and the other from 12mm exterior plywood. All my boxes are treated each year with water based preservative.
Box 1 is a standard style blue tit box mounted on a fence post and has been in place about 8 years, only used on two occasions by Blue tits and all the young fledged. This box has a hinged lid for access.
Box 2 is an open fronted box which has been mounted in a climbing shrub for about three years but never used.
Box 3 is a Sparrow terrace mounted on the rear of my house under the eaves.This box has been in place three years but Sparrows have never used it.The first year it was used by Blue Tits the second by Great Tits and the third Blue Tits again. Each time it has been used the young have all fledged. I have fitted all the boxes in this terrace with a camera and have had some great views of everyday life in the nest from nest building to fledging. This box has been made with a removable front which gives access to all three boxes.
If I decided to have a new box I would again go down the DIY route.
When you have seen one ant, one bird, one tree, you have not seen them all - E.O.Wilson
Great replies so far - please keep them coming. We really want to find out what makes people go down one route or another when choosing and maintaining a nesting box, so the more replies we get, the better.
BTW - Woodpecker and one or two others have mentioned that their box has been up for a while with no takers. This is something that happens from time to time, and does not necessarily mean that the box is in a wrong spot. When I moved into my current home over 20 years ago, one of the first jobs was to put up some nestboxes. The one on garage wall was ignored for the first 4 years, but has been in use almost every year since. Goes to show that sometimes patience pays.
I have had nesting boxes in my garden for ever. I have an acre of ground so have lots of different areas in which to place them. Always buy natural wood (untreated) and put RSPB metal plates over the holes to encourage smaller birds. Inundated with Tree Sparrows here. Replace boxes every 2 years and burn the old ones. By the way-have a Blue Tit and a Treecreeper roosting in my wood shed.
A million voices for nature.
I have had my current bird box for nearly 10 years now, infact it has moved house with me.
On my current property and the previous property it was fastened to the side of the house. Every year but one we have had Blue Tits in the box. So I have no intention of changing. Some people say you should face your boxes in a certain direction but in my case one was facing east and this one is facing north.
What does happen and every year it starts at the same time ie 2 weeks ago, we hear tapping in the box just as it starts to get light. Every morning without fail. So this year I have recorded the date it started and I shall record when it stops. Anyone any idea if this is the Blue Tit that is hoping to nest, what are they doing in the box. At a guess I expect they are just doing a little but of preparation.
Let me know. Perhaps this is the time to get a camera.
J