Bird Boxes: 2016

I am intrigued by this. Is the bat box one that is accessible from the bottom edge? Or one with a little horizontal front facing hole? Have you got a picture of the bat box?

 

If they have been up for three years with no takers, they are probably poorly sited. I would move them. See my comments above for directional placement.

I would also add that if they are not used in only one year, give it a second year and if still not used then move them.

 

Your right im next to a wood and dean that house many a bird. The flycatcher nests in a climbing rose against the garage wall or in the climbing honeysuckle over a small pergola.My joint favourite bird the treecreeper is harder to spot but the mature cherry tree at the bottom of the garden is home to them.They tend to clamber over numerous trees in the garden and a favourite seems to be the wild cheerry trees.
I think we would have more in the garden if there wernt so many bats scooping up the insects after dusk.The bats have been here for the last 30 years in the roof under the concrete tiles(bungalow)which is fine as they dont do any damage.

 

[QUOTE=""M", post: 999090, member:]

I recently moved mine and once I'd put a shrub under it (in a pot) and a hanging plant on a bracket to the side of it within minutes I had a blue tit visiting. Yes, as quick as that![/QUOTE]

How tall did you mount your bird box? Im imagining it to be quite low for some reason....

 

You imagine quite rightly - it was at 6ft; it's now at 5'9"
All my fencing is at 6' (until I get some trees established that is).
The good news is, I don't have cats visiting my garden. There aren't too many around here (mainly dogs) and my own cat is a Ragdoll and an indoor cat.

Yes it does, but I have no idea what size the holes should be to attract which birds. I know robins and blackbirds prefer open boxes and the blue tits go for the smaller holed ones. Hopefully someone can give you a better answer than that

Thanks for the tip for cleaning I may have to ask you to put a robin/other box to one side because I don't believe I'll be at shineyland this year but may be able to pick it up on a passing trip

 

I am officially renaming my bird-boxes of 10 years as boxes ! Nothing in 10 years , what could I be doing wrong?

 

Very interesting Shiney.

To those who asked about hole sizes, the minimum sizes for the following species are:
Blue Tit 25mm
Great Tit 28mm
Tree Sparrow 28mm
House Sparrow 32mm

 

Last nest box was put up yesterday.

I've got a wire "suet cake" holder nearby stuffed full of Ozzy hair for any bird who chooses to take some to line their home.

I'm really hoping the house martins return this year (no nest box for them, they make their own under the eaves).

 

I hope so too M. House Martins are in serious decline in the UK with colonies being abandoned. Last year the BTO did survey work to establish the presence, distribution, breeding and unfortunately their decline. We await the results but I know that in my home county, Sussex, the survey results were not good.

 

I didn't realise that @Redwing that really is sad news

One of the first things I noticed when I viewed this house was the house martin nest and really hoped that it wasn't a disused one. By the time we moved in (Aug '14) there was still activity from the nest.

Last year they returned and must have hatched 3 broods by our count so certainly these ones are doing their very best to keep the population going.

 

The house martins round here nest at my neighbours houses but use our walls to teach their fledgelings how to build nests .
Its the weirdest thing. You walk past and the birds are sticking mud onto the wall only 2 foot above my head.
Ive never heard of this behavior before and it leaves about 40 odd blobs of mud against the cream painted wall , Ggrrrr....