Nest boxesare the perfect way to invite insectivorous birds to your garden to help you fight plant pests. Booths can not only be a nesting place for birds, but also provide shelter for the winter. In order for the nest box to fulfill its task, however, it must be hanged in a way that ensures the safety of birds, and also cleaned once a year. We explainhow and when to hang nest boxesfor birds, and when is the best time tocleaning nest boxes
Nest box for birds
Fig. pixabay.com
Nest boxes - types
A nest box for birds , sometimes also referred to as a nest box, is a structure usually made of wood, in which birds can nest. Booths may vary in shape, dimensions and size of the inlet opening. These dimensions should be adapted to the needs of specific bird species (titre nesting box, nest box for swallows) or groups of birds (e.g. nest box for small birds or nest box for larger birds). It is best to hang boxes suitable for the species of birds found in the vicinity of the garden. Only then will they be of use.There are also other nesting boxes, e.g. for bats or hornets.
Which nest box is the best?
Nesting boxes for birds should be madeof unplaned boards, 2-3 cm thick (ordinary plywood and chipboards are not suitable, as they will get wet over time and the box will fall apart
Each box should have an inlet to allow birds to enter, and a sloped roof to protect the inlet from driving rain.It is also necessary toopen the nest box to clean it
Experts' opinions aboutwhich part of the nest box should openare divided. Certainly, an opening roof is a bad solution, because then it is difficult to get the dirt out of the inside of the booth, and access is difficult, especially when you reach the booth hanging quite high. The easiest way to get to the box is when the bottom is opened, but then there is a risk of accidentally falling out of the nest occupied by birds when the latch mechanism fails. Therefore, the best solution seems to beopening side wall of the booth , which provides easy access to its interior and minimizes the risk of accidental opening during the breeding season.
Nest box for birds
Fig. pixabay.com
The inlet to the nest boxshould be placed high enough so that predators cannot reach the nest.However, it should not be located right under the canopy of the booth. For small birds, a distance of about 2-4 cm from the inlet to the roof is recommended, and even 6-10 cm for larger birds. The diameter of the inlet opening should also be adapted to the needs of the selected birds. For tits, woodpeckers, tree sparrows, starlings, nuthatches, flycatchers or sparrows, this diameter can be 3-5 cm.
A very good solution issecuring the inletin the form of a metal cap . Thanks to this, we will avoid damaging this part of the box by woodpeckers.
The stick under the inlet opening is not recommended , on which the birds like to sit down, but they can do without it. Unfortunately, the stick makes it easier for predators to access the inside of the booth. Instead of a stick, it is important that the wood from which the booth is made is rough enough to allow the bird to stick its claws (which is why nest boxes are made of unplaned boards).
Nest box for birds
Fig. pixabay.com
When to hang the nest boxes for birds?
As a rule,nesting boxes should be hungbefore the breeding season starts, that is until March 15th. If we choose the date of hanging the box in early spring, it is worth doing it in February, because some birds look for nesting places a bit earlier. It is best to hang new nesting boxes in autumn - in October or November, because some birds, such as starlings, look for future nesting places already in this period. Nesting boxes suspended in the autumn can also be a winter shelter for birds.
How to hang nest boxes for birds?
Nest boxes are usually hungon trees, walls of buildings or attics of barns and houses. It is best to hang the nesting boxes from the south, and in the case of hanging on tree trunks - hang them at a height of 3-4 meters.On the one hand, the booths should be high enough to make it difficult for predators to access, on the other hand, after climbing the ladder, you should be able to reach the booth to clean it or to improve its fastening.
The nest box should be hung verticallyor slightly tilted forward (so that the rain does not flood the nest). It is very important thatthe birdhouse is mounted stably- it must not sway or vibrate under any circumstances. The booths are nailed to the trees. In order for the booth to stay stable, it is worth hammering at least 4 nails - two from the bottom and two from the top.
Remember thatthe place where the nest box is installedis as far as possible inaccessible to predators (e.g. no tree branches in the immediate vicinity of the nest box). A quiet place, sheltered from the wind and slightly shaded is also recommended (a shadow cast by the leaves of the tree is enough).Avoid placing boxes in places where birds are often present, e.g. at feeders or drinkers. Birds prefer to nest in secluded places. For this reason, the birdhouse in the garden should hang as far as possible from places where people are often.
Cleaning nest boxes
Cleaning the nest boxes is necessary for 2 reasons:
- the remains of nests can easily accumulate parasites that threaten birds - bacteria, fungi, fleas, lice, or even ticks,
- when new nests are built on the remains of old nests, they build up over time, little space is left in the shed, and the nests reach higher and higher, too close to the inlet, making the chicks easy prey for predators.
When to clean the nest boxes?
Nest boxes should be cleaned once a year. According to the regulations in force , the nest boxes can be cleaned from October 16 to the end of February , i.e. outside the breeding season of birds.In the remaining period, the box is treated as a habitat and is subject to legal protection.
However,it is best to clean the nest boxes in the fall(at the end of October or November), thanks to which they will be safe a refuge also for wintering birds.
Cleaning the nest box
Fig. depositphotos.com
However, do not rush and risk cleaning the booth in September or in the first half of October. Not only because oflegal protection of booths in this periodand the risk of receiving a ticket, but also because of the possibility of encountering wasps and hornets in the booth, which can be very aggressive at this time of the year.
Good to knowYou should not clean the nest box if the nest inside is composed of a large number of feathers. It may be the mazurka's winter nest. The feathers gathered in the booth provide this bird with additional protection against the cold.We also do not clean boxes inhabited by tenants other than birds, e.g. dormice, mice or bats.
How to clean nest boxes?
Always wear protective gloves to clean the nest boxes . First of all, so as not to cut yourself or stick the splinter into yourself, and secondly, that the skin of your hands does not come into contact with dirt and possible parasites in the nest box.
The remains of the nests can be removed from the inside of the box with your hands or miniature rakes . Remove the finer residues with a brush. In orderto thoroughly clean and disinfect the inside of the booth , you can wash it with water and alcohol. However, do not use detergents, the smell of which may be an obstacle to the colonization of the booth by the birds.
Sometimes the treatmenttanning the inside of the boothis also used after sprinkling with denatured alcohol. This method will ensure 100% certainty that the inside of the booth has been properly disinfected.
When cleaning the nest boxlet's also check its technical condition, whether it breaks anywhere and whether it is firmly fixed. Repairs must be made if necessary. Remember that apart from the inlet in the nest box there should be no other gaps.
