Bird Boxes: 2016

Check when buying bird boxes that they are accessible for cleaning. I have seen some nailed together with no screws or hinges, they are of no use and some Tit boxes have a small perch next to the hole, they shouldn't have.

 

I've seen Blue Tits using bat boxes with a narrow slot in the underside.

 

Paint over the blobs

 

Haven't got a bird box as of yet, have had one in the past but no activity, after reading this it was in the wrong position. I put a feeder in back in Nov and have had a pair of robins, a blackbird and his partner, a group of about 4/5 sparrows and more recently 2 coal tits, so they are coming slowly. Been fancing the mushroom bird house in asda but thought the hole is too big. Will keep an eye out for one you can clean

 

Hi All,

Whilst in the kitchen this morning I have noticed a lot of activity around the bird box in the apple tree. Not sure what it was as it is too far away and the kids have broken the binoculars. What ever it was spent about 10 minutes popping in and out and generally hanging around on the vacinity. Hopefully I will get nesting birds.

Rusty

 

I think today must be avian spring cleaning day: spotted my blue tits in and out of the box with lots of fresh moss and, at the same time, some house sparrows were busy doing the same thing. Except, the house sparrows have a much, much bigger bird box than my blue tits ... they've created a lovely hole, slap bang in the middle of the wall of the neighbouring semi

How are everyone else's boxes?

 

Looked at but no real interest shown.

 

Got Great tit and a Sparrow looking at the same box

 

Still time yet

Wonder who'll win?

 

Lots of birdie activity but no interest shown in the boxes as yet. Remaining hopeful!

 

One or none or a Blue Tit

 

You might be right with the blue tit Jiffster ... tenacious little beggars they are and very territorial

 

Just put up two birdboxes and a small bug house. Although the garden is just new I've been pleased to see robins, blackbirds, a wren, blue tits, coal tits, rooks, ravens, crows, magpies, sparrows, starlings, collared doves and wood pigeons. I'm hoping for more visitors once things start growing.
Last night we saw the bats for the first time since last year

 

We have two bird boxes tucked under the eaves, both made by OH, one facing east, the other north. The north facing one houses tits every year, and the other usually a wren - a couple of years ago I watched eleven chicks fledge from that one!! Last week I saw a bird go into it but it was nearly dark and I couldn't see what it was, but it wasn't a wren. Right next to the garden to the north there's a wood, so the tits usually perch on a tree there before flying into the box. I haven't seen any activity in that one yet, although I've seen tits starting to nest just above it under one of the roof tiles. Under the other one is a wire cable for climbing plants to use, and a trellis, so the wren uses those to perch on when coming and going. It very often nearly flies into us as it zooms past when we open the back door. We usually find dozens of nests all around the garden in autumn when we start cutting back. Last year our resident robin nested in the trellis just next to the bathroom window - the chicks sounded like an electric current!