Birdhouses

[sherrardk]

How do you encourage birds to nest in bird houses, do you just nail hit up and hope for the best or are you supposed to 'do' something? Thanks.

[paddywak]

I'd be interested in an answer myself,sherradk. We've had three scattered about the garden for about six years two have been used several times the other has never been looked at.They're sheltered and high enough to deter the local cats but for some reason the third one is constantly ignored

[sherrardk]

It's boy #2's birthday and Monday and he asked for a fish tank (tropical, girl had one in September for her birthday and he is now enamoured). However, he obviously needs a surprise (tricky to think of something so close to Christmas) and this bird house comes with an in-built camera (Aldi bargain). I am hoping something happens with it but we have a tiny garden with no high tress. We had birds nesting in the ivy last year which had babies so they do visit the garden. Will be a bit dull if we are all looking at the inside of an empty box for months.

[woofgang]

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/nestboxes/smallbirds/index.aspx
and more good info
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/nest-box823.html#cr

[seadogg]

http://www.wildsparrows.org.uk/?id=227

Sparrows like to nest in colonies and like to us "sparrow tenements" which can be easily knocked up with simple handtools.

[ELVIS68]

I've got 2 boxes in my garden, every year one of them is occupied by Bluetits, the other one stays empty

[sherrardk]

Starting to look like a v dull pressie :(

[woofgang]

I had one that used to get families of mice in it...would have loved a camera in the box.

[sherrardk]

A family of mice would be nice. One of the rabbits used to have a mouse, it used to sit on the side of the food bowl and they would share.

[ladybirder]

My advice would be to make sure your bird boxes face between East and North so they get the morning sun, never to the South as the birds will cook because they'll get the sun all day in summer. Also, don't put up too many boxes that attract the same species unless you have a very large garden as there won't be enough natural food to support so many families. And make sure they have cover close by. Good luck.