nesting

this year for the first time i had birds nesting in a little bird house. now the young have gone and all activety has stopped do i open the box and clear the nest out or leave it as it is? not being too clued up on birds . not sure but i know it was either the greatit or yellow tit family

 

Yes ip its as well to clean it out,make sure its waterproof then it's ready for next year.

 

I always open up the box, clean it out and then pour in a kettle of boiling water to kill any parasites. I then leave it open to dry before putting back up again.

 

thanks shall give it a good clean and put it back
up. do greattits / yellowtits comeback and nest in the same box, or would the young comeback to nest

 

This is something i plan to buy for next year :D What time do tits normally start looking for nests? We have a load of someting like greyish tits (looking) around here. Oh i also came a foot away from a robin that was knocking around at my feet and nicked one of my worms :D

 

Always leave your boxes up over winter birds will seek shelter and warmth in severe weather wrens will gather in bunches in nest boxes to keep warm, the boxes are there for birds as they start to mark out their territory in early spring.

 

Ok, i'll sort out a box in the next couple of weeks. I'll probably put it up on the corner of my shed where i can see it from my kitchen windwo :D

One question though about positioning the box, is it best say on the corner of a shed sticking out, or say positioned into a corner? Its difficult to describe, i'll try and draw it.

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Inside or outside of a corner?

 

I try to have the boxes out by February. The record is 2 minutes after fixing for the birds to be inspecting it. Just shows how desperate the birds can be for nesting holes. On mild spells in February the tits can be really serious about looking for nest sites.
When fixing make sure the box is in shade. If its in sun the chicks will get cooked so i don't think the birds will go for it. Somewhere quiet, where there is not a lot of movement past it, so not near the back door for instance. Tits like a clear flight into the hole so no branches etc in front and no perch below the hole for them.
Don't put boxes close together. You get neighbouring pairs arguing so much they don't get round to nest building and keep it away from the bird feeding area. They don't like it being too busy and noisy. Another thing you can do is if you have a pet you brush is to put out its fur in spring or even human hair if the family cut their own.

 

It's an important point that geoff mentioned about not putting them in full sun also make sure they are out of the cats reach.

 

Mmmm, i'll have to have a think where i could put one then, i dont have a big garden.

 

Yes and watch to see if cats can perch near them. The birds are easily put off when nest building and after they have laid eggs. One year I found a cat was perched on the roof!. I tapped nails in, not so they protruded but just so the heads stuck up not giving the cat somewhere to sit.
Which way does your house wall face?

 

Thats a point, i hadn't thought of putting one on the side of the house. I think that would be best as its away from cats, and there is a big tree shading some of the wall. I'll have a look at how the sun goes across up there, and put one up.

 

thanks for all the info. does anyone know how long it is from hatching to flying the nest yellow tit/great tit as it didnt seem long at all
and also as i put out all the obvious seeds and they did well as i could sit and watch the mother feeding the young all the time .. but what would be the favourite seeds