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Hi all. I am putting up some nesting boxes for the first time, and I have read that they should not be placed close to bird tables or feeders. How far away should they be? I have put one in my cherry tree, 6 ft up and facing North and at least 10 paces from the nearest feeder. I have put 2 bluetit type boxes on my house wall, one in foliage at 5ft high and one near the eaves. Both of these are only about 7ft from my bird table. Then I have put a robin teapot in a thick hedge, 5ft off the ground, but again this is only about 5ft away from some hanging feeders, although it is well hidden. I have put a round woven nesting box thing in another thick hedge, on a separate lawn at the far end of my garden, about 7ft off the ground and well hidden - the only thing is I can't see this hedge from my window so will not be able to enjoy the birds so much if it gets used. Do any of these boxes sound any good?? ps I have had one very old letterbox-slot type box on my shed wall for many years, and i have never had any birds use it - it faces west so I think that is the problem. I am in Cornwall, if that has any relevance. Thanks for any advice or tips - I would LOVE to attract bluetits, but I hardly get any in my garden.
Hi doggie, thanks for that. It might all just come down to the actual box/position/plants/location etc in each case then? But it sounds like mine are not TOO near the feeders then.... Oh good, cos I haven't really got any other places to put the boxes! I hope I get bluetits!! I am very excited!
Incidentally, has anyone ever had one of those robin teapots get used? I had mine for Christmas.
Hi Whitewing, Im in a simular position to yourself as I have various nest boxes dotted around the garden. Some might be too near the feeders Im not sure but I'll let the birds decide if they want to use them or not. Last year none got used.
The "letterbox" style hole sounds like swallow boxes?? I think the swallows like the nest boxes under the guttering from the roof. But please feel free to correct me if Im wrong :)
Cheers, Jason
Ive just had a think what I wrote on here and I might have got confused with house martins.... Do house martins come to the UK round spring time?
Hi whitewing
The letter box type sounds like a swift box and needs putting under the eaves of the roof.
Ref the other boxes.
They need to be facing north to east for best results
Putting too close to feeders may cause problems with regards to territory and may cause bullying from other birds.
also putting two samme boxxes too close will cause the same problem.
If your garden is small its just trying and hoping.even with everything right it doesn't always work and could take a couple of seasons.
Ray
a good laugh is better than a tonic
This might help
www.bto.org/.../essentials.htm
www.britishbirdfood.co.uk/.../nest-box-siting
www.rspbliverpool.org.uk/helping.htm
A bird in the hand can make an awful mess!
As Alan said, it isn't always apparent why particular boxes are used! The one most used here faces NNW and is about 5ft high, and 6-7 ft from a feeder, though separated by the rose trellis it is fixed on. I've some new ones this year, further away, so we'll see what happens with them.
I hadn't heard of the robin teapots, so googled them. A few years ago, when we had a dense honeysuckle on trellis, I put a metal teapot (from a charity shop so 50p!) in it, and it was used, successfully, straight away, but just the once! Since then I've had a ceramic one (same source!) in a conifer, but that's not been used. Maybe the nest structure would slide about too much on the glossy surface. So if yours has a rough internal surface, you should be ok, I think.
Hope you have success.
Rose
Some starlings seem to be hanging around the letterbox box (!) and going inside etc but I think they are just eatinjg insects..... looks good though! Might encourage other nesters to take a look mebbe??!!
Thanks, I am ever hopeful!
Wow I will look at these links, thanks
Hey thanks Northernlass! these sites are really helpful. I wonder if I should take down the letterbox box and resite it lower in my hedge for robins to maybe use? It faces West on the shed wall and has not been used in 6 years, although as I say, some starlings seem to be hanging around it but I think only looking for insects. What shall I do?