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I'm a real newy to bird watching and to RSPB and have found the discussion here invaluable as I wasn't sure when to put boxes up. One question I have, and I hope it isn't a silly or obvious one, is how can you protect boxes from, or fend off, cats?
Hi ! I'm fairly new to this millarky too, though I've had a couple of nest boxes for years. One is used quite often, the others a bit too small I think. Mines home made, bit like a swiss cottage, with about 2" overhang, but that didn't stop magpies putting there head inside to see if there was anything to eat ! ! ! ! I then put a row about 2 inch nails sticking out from the edge of the overhanging roof, since then I've don't seem to had any problems.
( .... and no the heads of the nails aren't sharp )
Hello, welcome to the forum.
It is not a silly question at all. Good points from Elmer Fudd
I put my boxes up as high as I can on trees and away from any branches.
I also have two boxes on the side of my house, impossible for cats to access. You can buy plates to protect the holes from other predators such as magpies etc.
http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/p/Nestboxes/Nest_box_plates.htm
"Make sure that the entrance hole is at least 12.5cm from the floor of the box to keep the young chicks safe from predators and to minimize the chance of cats clawing out the tiny chicks. Rose cuttings or any thorny material on the roof of the box should discourage cats. If the box is mounted on a tree, ensure that there are no overhanging branches for the cat to gain easy access to the nest hole." Taken from
http://www.beautifulbritain.co.uk/htm/wildlife_gardening/birdboxes_faqs.htm
Hope this helps.
Kind regards Jane.
Hi MillyMolly
Welcome to the forums from me too. :-)
Many people place nestboxes high on their houses and cats can't reach them.
It you aren't putting one on the side of your house, then high up in a tree will also help fend off cats. :-)
Best wishes Chris
Click Here to see my photos
I presume you are talking about hole access boxes.
A Plan for a cat proof bird box by Nichol a Balcon paste into your browser.
http://www.lallement.org/plandu.htm
http://nichoirs.net/page4-2.html
its a french site but the plans are clear.
Otherwise a projecting roof well over the access will give the cats difficulty.