Birdhouses

Hi Everybody,
As we aproach January and the days start to get longer, I am starting to watch for interest in my bird houses. I built one in March or April this year and a pair of blue tits raised four chicks in it. I have noticed a pair of coal tits checking it out and wonder if they will nest in it this coming spring. I built another one two weeks ago and have put it up two or three trees away from the original and will be watching for interested birds checking this one out. I have made both of them with torch on felt on the roofs for added waterproofing and this has kept the original one as dry as a bone. 25mm holes are just about right for blue tits and coal tits etc and I will build some more with bigger holes and also open fronts for the blackbirds and thrushes (not many of the thrushes about this year!!!)
Anyone else got bird houses? let's all hear about them.
G.Man :D :D :D

 

I feel quite chuffed when mine get used. I have an open fronted one used by Robins,a couple of well used boxes for Tits...one of which doubles up as a base for a Black bird's nest:D and a multi sectioned Sparrow box but it has only housed Bats to date.
I have made a Tit box that fits on the inside of my shed for viewing but no luck so far.
I've used lead on the Sparrow box roof which might be why Bats use it as it must be very dry in there.

 

Great work Paladin, what about a couple of pics showing the lead roof. I like that idea and would like to do simmilar
G.Man

 

Ok...here goes..
This is the Sparrow box,the lead is fitted under the shingle roof and extends down. I thought the lead would deter larger birds from making the hole bigger.

Tit box with Black bird's nest on the top..

Unused viewing box:hehe:

Robin box

A couple of other boxes



and one more the birds seem scared of:D

 

Id definitely put a metal plate around the hole, Sadly the blue tits who were nesting in my box last year had the nest raided by a magpie that pecked open the hole and got a couple of the babys.

Thankfully I was able to shoot it a day later with the .22 on its second atempt and put a plate over the hole and thankfully the others all fledged in safety.

 

Paul, I could not back you up more on the shooting magpies front. I used to live on the outskirts of a farm and they would peck at the eyes of the lambs-evil horrible birds. I can`t be trusted with a gun worse luck! So use one of those megablaster water cannon things on them.

Cat`s don`t even scratch the surface when it comes to taking chicks compared to those things. I can`t stand em. That horrible clicking noise they make when they have found a nest full of chicks.

I have two of those woven wicker types bird houses but have no idea where to put them. As you know I have that enormous ( and strangely growing on me) leyllandii and two oaks-where do I put them?

 

Claire,

Probably on the oaks, the trick is to get them in a semi shelterd position so the birds dont feel exposed.

Leylandi however is often a bit to dense to get mutch nesting or even to fix them too, however if the crown has been raised on the leylandi and the trunk is visible then try putting one on the trunk.

 

Well the oaks are out then-don`t have any where like that at all, so it`s the leylandii.

It`s crown starts at around 8ft and the baby cat is a menace and can easily scale the tree, but she is all mouth and too chicken to try at the extremities of the branches, but they are semi exposed so they`re out too. I`ll have to have a think about it.

 

I think Magpies get a rough deal compared to other members of the Crow family, Rooks, Carrion crows, jackdows and Jays . They will all take young chcks and eggs if they get half a channce. They will eat just about anything they can fit in there beaks. Thats why there is so many of them!

 

Hello Gingernutsman some of the boxes I have in the garden, No birds nesting yet but had a lot of lookers, blue tits, coal tits couple of robins but I need an open box for the robins, great way to pass the day watching these clever birds

 

Thanks Paladin nice and homley for the birds.... Nathan 7 Is that a Montana or a Honeysuckle the boxes are hiding in ?

 

Hello gnm the boxes are hiding in Montana on this side and they are well covered in the spring on this side of the garden on the other side I have some more boxes and they are covered in Passion flower and Virginia creeper in the sring and summer

 

Bet that montana is well covered in the spring/early summer. Is it a white or a pink?

 

I've just started putting nest boxes and feeders up around the garden. Probably they won't get used this year but hopefully the local bird life will see them and use them next year.
I realised that I left my robin boxes at my old house, which is a pain, so tomorrow see's me drinking coffee while giving serious consideation to "definately starting to make a couple....any minute now...well, as soon as this programme on TV has finished...." etc etc

I have something loud and noisy nesting in the roof. Not been able to identify it yet but it certainly clomps about up there. When I've worked out what it is, then I might go and investigate.

My insect boxes are also in the process of going up. Really cheap to make and a 15 minute job, but preserves the wild life in the garden, so really helps the birds as well.

Also, as I'm starting to cut back on the junk that I have inherited from the last garden, The first wodge of wood, branches and leaves are getting piled behind the garage where they can stay for the next few years. It's completely hidden unless you go to look, but also good for insects and hedgehogs. And toads if my last pile is anything to go by.


I have a question if I may?

My garden, and especially my TV ariel, often attracts a good sized group of starlings. Most people won't find this interesting at all, but in 8 years of living in York, this is only the second time I've ever really encountered them in any number, and the previous set disappeared after a couple of days.

Is there anything I can do to help them and keep them around? Do they ever use nest boxes? if so, what sort of design and location? Anyone know of favoured food types etc?

...Oh - I have a second question ( sorry )

It would seem that ducks wander in to the front garden sometimes - they all walk in a group down the middle of the road and quack at the cats until they ( cats ) run away. Would a nest box of any sort appeal to these chaps? I'm thinking not but thought I should ask.

 

Can only answer for the ducks-they'll nest anywhere they deem cosy and safe, but the emphasis on safe, or else predators (foxes mainly) will take both mother duck and any eggs/babies. Wild ducks are best left to nest somewhere surrounded by water.