Nest Boxes – Ray Colliers Wildlife in the North

Blue Tit Chick in nest BoxWith the snow falling on the two inches that fell overnight it seems strange to be thinking of nest boxes although a few birds are singing.   However, 14th to 21st February was the National Nest Box Week when people were encouraged to put up new boxes or re-furbish existing ones.   One of the reasons for this is that with the current management of woodlands and the clear felling there are few natural holes left in woodland for small groups of trees.   That includes hedgerows and gardens  and the latter often enables us to see what is using the boxes without disturbing the birds.   Most hole nesting birds have to use natural holes although sometimes having to enlarge existing ones.  There are a few birds such as the great- spotted woodpecker that can excavate their own and, ironically, some of these are often taken over by other birds when they are not used.

One of the problems with putting up a new nest box is deciding which bird you are catering for and even in a garden this can vary from a blue tit to a tawny owl.     The design  of the nest box is critical and can make all the difference as to whether or not the nest box will be used.   There is such a wide variety of designs it can be difficult to choose and a visit to a local garden centre can readily show you the wide range.  Unfortunately it can also indicate just how expensive even the smaller ones can be but there is always the choice of making your own.   This is not as difficult as it seems and there are a number of sources to get the designs from and how to make them.   There are many books on  the market and one I return to over anything to do with birds in the garden came out in 2011.  It is “Garden Birds & Wildlife”  by Mike Toms & Paul Sterry published by the AA.    There is a fascinating  chart in the book that gives the type of box, size and, most important, the size of the entrance hole.

In my one acre garden there are a large number and wide range of nest boxes that have had various levels of success.  On the one hand the triangular  shaped special nest boxes for tree creepers have , for some reason, never been successful.  On the other hand the artificial  nest boxes under the eaves for house martins have been very successful with some occupied every year.  The large nest box on the huge beech tree at the other end of the garden has also been very successful.  Over the years it has been occupied by tawny owl, jackdaw and mandarin duck and all have been successful at bringing off young.   In contrast the special nest box for house sparrows I bought with three boxes in one have never been touched by them.  For two years one end has been taken over by blue tits and the chick in the photograph  is peering out of one,  waiting for food from the parents.

One development in recent years has been the tiny cameras specially  designed to go inside nest boxes so that you can see what is happening.  The film of the birds can be relayed to your television or computer and it is thrilling to see, live, just what is happening.     Not only has the design changed but also the price and these days you can get not only the camera but also a nest box for just over £100.   I was looking at one such outfit in a local garden centre last week and I can vouch for them being effective.  I have mine linked up to a small television in my study and when  the birds are active it is difficult to concentrate on writing.

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