National Nestbox Week 14-21 February 2025

National Nestbox Week                                                   

Hot off the heels of Big Garden Birdwatch is National Nest Box Week, which runs from 14-21 February, now is the time to show even more love to your feathered friends by supplying them with their very own ‘love nest’.

Many of the birds you may have seen feeding in your gardens and green spaces over winter will be getting restless.  Birds such as Blackbirds and Robins will be starting to get the urge to move and believe it or not, they will begin to migrate, heading for Northern Europe.  Some of the birds likely to nest in your garden this year may be birds that have just arrived, after having flown further north themselves and will begin ‘prospecting’ for suitable nest sites.

Which box do I use?

It’s all about holes!  Nestboxes are artificial replacements for natural nest sites.  Different birds have different requirements and there are nestboxes available for a variety of birds.  Ranging from boxes with small holes suitable for Blue and Great Tits to open fronted boxes preferred by Robins.  There’s also a range of boxes for Swifts and cups for Swallows.  See here for our ultimate nestbox guide.

The RSPB sell a range of pre-made nestboxes to suit many bird species, take a look here.

If you fancy building your own nestbox, take a look at our Build a Nestbox instructions here, a great activity for half term. 

A small number of our reserves are hosting build your own nestbox events during half term too.  Find out if there’s one near you here.  

Where do I put up my bird box? 

Location is a top priority, and boxes should be placed in as safe a location as possible, away from potential predator risks and bad weather.  Face the box between north and east to avoid strong sunlight and heavy wind and rain. Always ensure that birds have a clear flightpath to the entrance of the box.

Most gardens may only support single pairs of birds. For example, one conventional box with a hole for Blue Tit and another open fronted box for a Robin. Multiple boxes spaced between 0.75 and 1.0m apart would suit those more colonial birds such as House Sparrow or Starlings.

Remember box entrances need to be kept well away from any nearby perches which could be used by a predator.

Preparing a nest box

If there are still nest boxes up from last year, now is the time to make any repairs and give them a good clean.  Get rid of old nesting material, being sure to take care if working from a height and wearing gloves and a face mask so as not to inhale dust and germs.  A rinse with boiling water will ensure no parasites remain in the box.  Ensure the box is fully dry before placing it back up.           

To attract birds to your garden and keep them happy, leave out fresh food and water for them. Keep their food and water stations clean to reduce the spread of any garden bird diseases –follow our guidance here. 

Gardening for birds

Now is also the time to prepare the garden for birds.

During the summer months many birds feed on , aphids, and other invertebrates.  Providing a range of flowering plants such as poppies, cornflowers and Oxeye Daisies can be grown from seed.  Seeds scattered now will produce a sea of wildflowers in late spring to attract a range of invertebrates including pollinators such as bees, moths and butterflies which in turn will attract birds.

Bushes and trees are natural nesting sites for birds and also provide shelter and nighttime roosting hubs.  Plants such as ivy and holly are great sources of food for birds in the autumn and winter, nectar in late flowering ivy attracts hoverflies and the berries from both shrubs are food for many birds.

For more ideas about how to create a bird friendly space take a look at our ‘how to plan a garden’ pages here.

Photo credits:

Starling peeping put of a nestbox by Eleanor Bentall RSPB-images

Blue Tit at nestbox by Matt Wilkinson RSPB-images

Field of British wild flowers by Ben Andrew RSPB-images