Bird boxes.

Hi All,

Is it too late to put up bird boxes?

Regards
Rusty

 

Found this

"Nestboxes are best put up during the autumn. Many birds will enter nestboxes during the autumn and winter, looking for a suitable place to roost or perhaps to feed. They often use the same boxes for nesting the following spring. Tits will not seriously investigate nesting sites until February or March."

So i guess for tits no its not too late :-)

http://www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/advice/helpingbirds/nestboxes/smallbirds/siting.aspx

 

No, it's not @rustyroots just choose your site carefully so any chicks won't get "fried" when Spring sunshine floods in.

I've got two which I'll be relocating later today. Ok, so they are only being moved left a short distance but both had potential buyers viewing the properties late Autumn, so there has been interest. By moving them they'll have better coverage when the plants come back to life in the Spring.

 

Thanks for the replies. I am going to put it in the apple tree about 3-4m high. So when the tree starts to leaf up there will be cover to shade box.

Regards
Rusty

 

I'd put them up too. We had a long spell of mild weather and now a cold snap. They'll probably start looking again when the weather warms up a bit. Let us know if you get any birds nesting.

 

It's not too late but get them up as soon as possible as birds will be checking them out from next month; if on a wall they should should be sited on a north or east facing wall. South or west they get too hot unless shaded by something else for the hottest part of the day. Trees are fine as long as there is a clear flight line and not accessible by cats.

 

Well, my bird boxes were moved as planned. Didn't see anything taking any interest - not that I expected any.

Today, I hung a plant on a bracket next to the bird box; moved a potted shrub up the garden and place it roughly under the bird box (not that the bird box was the tempting factor, I had other reasons). Astonishingly, within minutes (yes, I really do mean minutes!) a blue tit was inspecting the bird box and then ... in it went

 

The size of opening will determine which bird will (hopefully) use it.
25mm for Blue, Coal and Marsh Tits.
28mm for Great Tit, Tree Sparrows.
32 House Sparrows and Nuthatch.
Unlike Sparrows the Tit family only have one brood, early in the year but they sometimes use a nest box to roost singly during the winter.

Woodpeckers are predatory and if around they can enlarge an opening to take the young, some boxes have metal surrounds to prevent this.