How to Get Birds to Use Your Nest Box

People often ask if a nest box in the garden is of any use because so few appear to be used. The answer to that is an unreserved yes. With so many natural habitats and nesting sites under threat, cavity nesting birds find there is ever greater competition for nest holes. This is one reason it is so important that everything possible is done to encourage birds into gardens and yards. As many species now rely on sheds, walls and other structures as alternative nesting sites, a custom-built nest box is a welcome addition if it is correctly positioned, safe to use and close to a regular supply of food and water.

Ideally, a new nest box will be in place before winter sets in, which allows time for birds to become accustomed to the new addition and by offering winter shelter you increase the chances of these birds staying and nesting in the spring. However, a far more important factor is the position to make sure it provides a comfortable environment, safe from predators and the worst of the weather.

In reality, this is more of a compromise and needs careful thought. Height is not the main consideration and a box placed at around the six-foot level will be fine. The position must be protected from prevailing cold winds and birds will usually not use nest boxes that face south because of exposure to sun from dawn to dusk. A good place would be anywhere from north to south-east with a clear flight path and not too heavily sheltered or darkened by foliage. They should be secured to prevent movement but preferably not nailed in place, allowing them to be removed at a later date.

Most people will only consider one or two nest boxes, but if you want to place a larger number around your garden, remember that many birds are territorial, so placing them close together will create problems. It is also worth considering that the number of birds a garden will support is limited by the insect population in the immediate vicinity. Whether the nest box has been used or not during the year, you can encourage its use over the winter and the following summer by cleaning it inside. This is ideally done during October or early November. Assuming the nest box has not been permanently nailed into place, it should be taken down and any nesting material removed. Under no circumstances use any cleaning products on the inside, instead, lift the lid or remove a side panel and pour in boiling water before returning it to its usual place. Finally, when considering all the above, do try to position the nest box where you can see it.

Encouraging Birds to Your Garden

It is relatively easy to encourage birds to any garden as long as it provides the three essentials of food, shelter and water. The most important rule is to make sure food is available throughout the year and not just in the winter. Nuts, seed mixtures and fat balls are all welcome but do make sure any feeders and bird tables are cleaned regularly to prevent the spread of viral diseases. Avoid chemical cleaners and instead use using boiling water. Equally important is to provide the right ecologically friendly environment to encourage insect food. Cutting back or eliminating chemicals and pesticides used in the garden will help and birds and other predators will make sure there will be very few problems with pests.

Although an open, well-maintained lawn will give a clear view and offer a perfect hunting area for birds but flower beds, neat borders and an over tidy garden do not offer much of interest. A bird friendly garden should ideally include plants that offer a good source of food and if you allow the seed heads to stay on plants, it offers an alternative source of food for birds in winter. Cut back these seed heads in early March as new shoots are emerging. Most trees and shrubs attract and support insects and shrubs that produce berries will give food in the colder months, although it is worth noting that many yellow berries remain uneaten and it is probably best to concentrate on plants producing red or black berries.

The best bird garden boundary is a hedge left untrimmed in the summer. An untrimmed hedgerow offers a variety of benefits. Hawthorn or hazel are ideal but almost all hedges will offer a good habitat for birds to shelter, nest and feed. Aside from any berries the hedge produces, dead leaves and debris shelter spiders, woodlice and centipedes and in the hedge itself, leaves stay attached to offer warmth and cover in the colder months. A word of warning. It is best to avoid thick leaved evergreens such as laurels and rhododendrons because they take too much light from the ground and there are too few insects underneath.

Finally, a few notes on providing water. All birds need water and get some through the food they eat. They don't sweat but lose water mainly through excretion and they need to replace this. Many garden birds also need water to take care of their plumage which, apart from its obvious use in flight, provides insulation and regulates body temperature. The battle to maintain plumage is a constant one and bathing is an important element in their attempt to keep their feathers fully efficient. Most birds prefer shallow water for bathing, placed in the shade with a reasonable amount of cover.

Follow these tips and you will encourage birds to your garden all year-round.