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Bird Boxes

wildlife, gardening, environment, Rural living, Pets and Vets
AsleepInYorkshire
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Bird Boxes

#308087

Postby AsleepInYorkshire » May 12th, 2020, 6:33 pm

We've been working in the garden. Big old job and still a lot to do.

But thinking ahead I think it would be good to put some bird boxes up.

How many?
Made of what?
Protection from cats and squirrels?
What sort of price should I be paying per box?

We have a few different species of bird visiting - many are small bullfinch type birds.

Doves
Sparrows
Starlings
Robins
Chaffinch
Magpies
Crows
Bullfinch (I think)

Any advice gladly taken

AiY"t"n'U

tjh290633
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Re: Bird Boxes

#308107

Postby tjh290633 » May 12th, 2020, 7:28 pm

You don't want magpies nor starlings. Tit boxes need a metal ring around the entry hole to keep redators away. Robins like open fronted boxes, apparently. Sparrows are reputed to like a terrace of boxes.

Have a look at the RSPB website https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/garden-bird-nest-boxes/ for some ideas.

TJH

Lootman
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Re: Bird Boxes

#308108

Postby Lootman » May 12th, 2020, 7:32 pm

tjh290633 wrote:Tit boxes need a metal ring around the entry hole to keep predators away.

My dad used to make freestanding bird boxes and give them away as gifts. He was a cabinet maker so bird boxes were easy. He had a special design that meant the cats (the main predator) could not climb them. It required them to be upside down while they navigated a ledge and they could never do that.

Robins don't really need a box, but tits do.

Nimrod103
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Re: Bird Boxes

#308110

Postby Nimrod103 » May 12th, 2020, 7:34 pm

I am no ornithologist expert, but all the nesting boxes with small round holes are designed for various tits. I think other birds prefer open fronted boxes.

Every nest box I see on sale is not robust enough to protect the baby birds from predators - the worst of which in my opinion are woodpeckers, magpies and crows. The wood needs to be strong enough to withstand attack by these predators, multi-layered or even armoured if necessary. And the hole should be surrounded by a metal plate - you can buy them online in different sizes for different tit varieties, because woodpeckers seem to attack mainly by opening up the hole large enough to put their beak in.

kiloran
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Re: Bird Boxes

#308111

Postby kiloran » May 12th, 2020, 7:40 pm

Here's my favoured bird box for pigeons:
Image

Hate them!!

--kiloran

bungeejumper
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Re: Bird Boxes

#308178

Postby bungeejumper » May 13th, 2020, 9:40 am

A lot of good information from the RSPB. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildl ... -bird-box/. Including the recommendation to face them north-east. Apparently it avoids strong sunlight and inward-blowing rain, which all helps to make them a better place for raising chicks.

Cats and bird tables tend to go together, I find. Try to locate the nest boxes somewhere that's clear of such complications. :)

BJ


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