Bird Box

[dibble1]

My Mum does everything possible to help our feathered friends. Tables, bird baths, feeders, nothing is too much trouble. However, she now has six bird boxes and nothing will come anywhere near any of them. The garden faces south but the boxes face in all directions and differing heights. It's a beautiful big garden, the only thing I can think of is they have gormless collie dog, (I love him to bits really), who occasionally goes racing round the garden but surely he wouldn't prevent them nesting would he?

[boxtops]

It might - they could be threatened by anything that could disturb their peace and quiet. the boxes might facing in the wrong directions or in the full sun - could be all sorts of reasons.

[Wak]

Siting the nest box can be very important to the bird.
http://www.nestbox.co.uk/siting.shtml

[paddywak]

I wouldn't worry too much dibble when i was ordered to put up some boxes I did a bit of research about size, siting etc and duly put up three boxes. these where then ignored for a couple of years till a pair of blue tits took up residence in one box. Since then all three have been occupied on and off for the last 5-6 years, another thing to remember though is that some birds are very territorial and if the boxes are too close together they will not use them or prevent other birds from coming too close to their "Patch"

[KRUSTYMAN]

Like your mother I do everything possible to entice birds into my garden, I also have about 7/8 nesting boxes of varying sizes. Last year a couple were used, this year none. I just console myself in the knowledge that there are still plenty of birds coming into the garden to eat from my bird tables/feeders. At least I get to enjoy the birdsong!

[dibble1]

Thank you all very much

[padanarm]

Don't worry dibble, even RSPB checks nest boxes every year to find out which ones worked and that's nowhere near 100%.

Where you put nest boxes might not be where birds would choose to site them.
Birds like blue tits or great tits like tree holes so would be happy with boxes under overhanging branches. Robins prefer somewhere deep in the undergrowth. North, south, east or west is a matter of trial and error.

PS. Remember to clean your birdfeeders every couple of months to prevent diseases being spread to your feathered friends.