Some years ago, I was given an old nest box by a friend. It had certainly seen better days, but being adverse as I am to throwing things away, I decided it was a project worthy of an upcycle. Spruced up with a new paint job and necessary repairs, it found its new home on the side of an outbuilding. Satisfied that this ‘des res’ was ready for the property market, I expected word to spread faster than gossip at a family reunion. I eagerly kept an eye on it all spring, then the next and the next, but it appeared that this nest box was more of a ghost town than a hot property. One thing about nature is her fondness for irony; the very year we chose to repaint the cabin and remove the nest box was the same season the tenants arrived. My husband was thrilled at the thought of pushing back that chore and I was over the moon because our patience had finally paid off. Over the next few months, we excitedly watched the comings and goings of a pair of Blue Tits, first taking nesting material into the box and then later, food for hungry chicks.
Bird populations worldwide face exceptional challenges including habitat loss, air pollution and climate change. The impact of these pressures includes a decrease in food availability and a reduction in natural nesting locations. Cavity nesters are among the most vulnerable because our gardens and parks are rather short of natural openings. Mature, unruly trees are often replaced with young saplings which don’t have the nooks and crannies that wildlife craves. Considering that nearly one fifth of birds cosy up in tree hollows, maintaining these neighbourhoods is crucial to boost avian diversity. Many cavity nesting birds are insectivores and important allies in biological pest control, so we need to keep them around!
Popping up a surrogate nesting cavity contributes to conservation, supports your local ecosystems and provides great birdwatching entertainment. However, there’s a caveat here...nest box management comes with responsibility. If you want to be a ‘birdy landlord’ then you need to consider several factors including size, layout and location, location, location. Smaller birds, like Blue Tits need a box with a small entrance hole to deter nuisance callers such as House Sparrows and Starlings. These birds prefer homes with larger entrance holes while Robins and Wrens choose an open-fronted design. If you've got the space, try putting up boxes of different styles to attract a variety of birds. Just be sure to space them out—no one wants a bird brawl in their backyard!
When it comes to location, shelter from strong winds, rain and sunlight is important and nest boxes should be high enough off the ground to deter mammalian predators. I've strategically planted some prickly shrubs beneath a few of our nest boxes and nestled an open-fronted one on a fence draped with ivy. I regularly check this to make sure the foliage doesn’t obscure the entrance hole and the birds have a clear escape route if necessary. Steering clear of trees or walls near bird feeders is a clever move as high levels of activity could disturb courting couples.
One last tip on design features; avoid a box that has a perch outside, it’s an unnecessary fixture and only serves to encourage intruders. Of course, it’s not just other birds that predate on eggs and young chicks, squirrels, rats, mice and weasels are always on the hunt for an easy ‘take away’. You can baffle would-be predators by fixing a metal plate around the entrance hole or plant spiky vegetation below the box as a deterrent.
After you’ve tucked the tools away and your nest box is standing tall, it’s showtime. Sit back and enjoy the antics of your residents as they add furnishings and raise a family. Some species will have more than one brood, so keep an eye on your birdy estate throughout the summer too.
Last year, my husband kept hearing a drumming sound on the side of the cabin which serves as his home office. After some time, we realised that the birds were pecking at the entrance hole. It’s thought that this may be a form of display or perhaps the birds were just checking the quality of the build!
Popping up a nest box or two is one of the easiest ways to roll out the red carpet for garden birds. While providing food is a crucial element to their survival, if they can’t find a safe spot to nest, then the next generation won’t take flight. And while they are primarily used during breeding season, nest boxes also provide refuge during harsh, winter months. And as you help birds thrive in your green space, you enhance biodiversity. Their feeding habits disperse seeds which sprout new plants and invite snack-loving invertebrates and pollinators to pay a visit and lays down the welcome mat for other wildlife looking for shelter.
All this from one small box.
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