Houses for the Birds Feeding | Ponds | Plants | Houses

To encourage birds to nest in your garden provide a few bird houses or nest boxes. There are three main types of nest boxes each designed to attract a particular group of birds.

 

 

The standard bird house is a box with a small circular hole in the front. The box should be placed at least 1.5 metres high. The diameter of the hole determines which bird is most likely to use the box. 25mm attracts blue tits, 28mm attracts great tits and house sparrows or starlings need 45mm.

 

 

An Open Box is similar to the standard bird house except that most of the front is missing. These boxes attract Robins, Pied Wagtails and Redstarts and again should be placed at least 1.5 metres high.

 

Owl Boxes are large wooden boxes or tubes used to encourage Kestrels, Barn Owls and Tawny Owls. These are usually placed in trees or on buildings and at a height of at least 5 metres.

 

 

Site your bird houses in a shady position facing between north and east to avoid strong sunlight and winds. Ideally place them within shrubs or climbers. Make sure the front of the house is kept clear to enable the birds to gain easy access. It is best to put up new houses in the autumn to give the birds somewhere to roost during the winter and use for nesting the following spring.

 

Roosting Pockets are made from natural materials, such as coconut fibre, and provide a place for birds to shelter during harsh winter weather. They should be placed in a quiet, sheltered spot - away from direct sunlight and winds and rain.

 

 

In the autumn remove nest material, eggs and dead birds. Eggs that have not hatched can only be removed from September through to January and they must be destroyed - it is illegal to keep them. Wash the bird house with boiling water to kill off infectious or parasitic organisms that may be present.