Nest Box Activity

I think the entrance (22mm) is a bit too small for sparrows Nick as I built it for blue tits. I'm going to make a couple more boxes within the next week or so with 32mm holes and they should be big enough for house sparrows.

 

Of course:dh: Larger holes and deeper boxes to keep the chicks safe out of reach...Considering I have made a twin Sparrow box it was a numpty statement:dh:...time for a livener methinks:D

 

Well you learn something new everyday.:thumb: I was always of the opinion that sparrows only nested in hedgerows and the like.:dh: 02

 

I had a pair of sparrows nest in my tit box last year the hen just managed to sqeeze in the cock just stayed outside and fed them all through the hole.

 

They must have felt safe there Walnut. I might have a go at putting a box up this year. Always been put of because of local cats. I suppose if I put one on the back of the house it will be well away from any fences that the cats can jump up on. What do you think? 02

 

One of my boxes is on the side of the house 02 just below the bathroom window,just ensure the box is not facing south, the full sun on the box in the day will cook the chicks.

 

The back of my house is north/west and dosnt get the sun untill late afternoon, so should be ok.

 

good shot dave let us know if they nest, they should do after 20 mins of looking:gnthb:

 

I saw a couple of blue tits having a look in one of our nest boxes yesterday.
It is one of the open front Robin boxes.
I hope they nest in it.
Only ever had one box nested in a Wren had 3 lovely little chicks .
Just before they were ready to fly the nest a cat killed them.

 

I've enlarged the entrance of this box to about 33mm now and most days, particularly on sunny ones the sparrows are showing a lot of interest. He now spends quite a bit of time inside while she hangs around oustside. In fact when she tries to get a look in he chases her off. She was sitting on the roof with her tail hanging down and he stuck his head out and pecked it!
I was really surprised the other day when I saw the male take a large clump of the fresh dry moss I'd put in it last month after sterilising the box and fly away with it. Obviously my choice of bedding isn't up to standard!
All very entertaining and much better than watching TV!
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When will they start to build their nests?

 

Not sure Lyn, but I'd guess April. Mr sparrow is going in and out of the box all day at present, but I think it's a bit early to start raising a brood.

 

They will start now the weather is milder,we already have a dove in a conifer with a nest, the local rookery is busy again and a blackbird with nesting activity,the dawn courus has started so the breeding season is underway.

 

No doubt about nest building now! The hen's been spending time in the box and they've both been bringing in feathers to line it. They are obviously very particular about material because I saw the hen extract a feather from the box, drop it on the ground and then peck it until it was the right shape/size and then she returned it to the box.

Don't know where all the white down and feathers are coming from - there's maybe a semi-naked pigeon in the vicinity now :D
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Great pictures Dave,:thumb: