For the last 20 years the week of the 14th to 21st February has been National Nestbox Week, encouraging all of us to hang nestboxes for our garden birds.
British Trust for Ornithology offer a free information pack and links to garden nestbox making and maintenance. To request a pack complete their online form.
20 Years of Nestboxes
In 2016 we put up two nestboxes and were quite quickly rewarded with a pair of Blue Tits moving in and later their little family learning to fly in our garden. Already this year both boxes are being investigated by Tits so we may get two lots of fledglings this year!
Once you’ve hung a nestbox, register with BTO and take part in Nestbox Challenge by monitoring and recording your sightings.
Top Tips
When hanging a nestbox consider the following :-
- Keep it away from cats and squirrels
- Site the box at least 2 metres from the ground
- Place the front of the box facing towards the south, giving protection from cold northerly winds
- Open fronted nestboxes should be hidden from view, on a wall or fence with bushes or ivy growing up
- Don’t site nestboxes too close to each other
- Try to site boxes away from feeders as the activity may disturb nesting
- If squirrels or woodpeckers are a problem consider placing a ring of metal around the entrance hole to stop damage
House hunting 2017
Hang a nestbox NOW – there’s a whole week to get one up. Oh, and Happy Valentine’s Day!
See my post on year-round bird feeding for advice on what and how to feed your garden visitors.
For bird feeding ideas read How to Make a Hanging Coconut Bird Feeder and to find out about duck feeding read my Duck Feeding Guide – did you know ducks shouldn’t eat bread?
For more on wildlife gardening red Gardening
#CountryKids
Some fab tips for hanging nest boxes, I love encouraging birds to come into the garden. It’s great that you’ve already managed to get some birds to come by, I bet it’s fab for you all to stop and watch them. I look forward to seeing some updates about the birds moving into your nesting boxes.
Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.
These are great tips. I love the fact that you got to see a family grow and leave the nest. We used to have blackbirds nest in an old peg bag every year by our back door when I was small and it is something I remember really well. It’s such an experience seeing the babies grow up 🙂 #countrykidsfun
It’s going to be an interesting season, the blue tits have been investigating and going into the box for a couple of weeks now but today a pair of sparrows were holding it hijack so the battle commences!
Cute 🙂 Great idea to get the kiddies involved xx
Definitely. Makes things even more worthwhile when the children get something from it too
Wow I didn’t know about Nestbox week, that’s fascinating! Might put one up ourselves. Might wait until I’ve done the garden up though. #CountryKids
The birds won’t care about the garden, the messier the better for them; more natural! That’s my excuse anyway.. Thanks for reading
I did not know this! Will definitely go a register, we had a pair of blackbirds nesting in one of our bushes last year, sadly not at all an ideal position and the stress of a constant lurking cat meant that they ended up abandoning the nest. I do like birdwatching and our little guy really seems to enjoy watching the garden and what goes on there too 🙂 #countrykids
Blackbirds are notorious for choosing precarious or unsafe nest sites. Birdwatching from the house is a great way to enthuse kids about nature. Thanks for stopping by