Feather Their Nest
Did you know that there is a National Nest Box Week? This year it takes place from 14th-21st February. The event is organised by the British Trust for Ornithology. The idea started in 1997 following fears about birds losing their natural nest sites because of lots of trees being cut down, old buildings disappearing, gardens being ‘tidied’ and old houses being repaired.
The Trust wants us to put up nest boxes so that we can protect the wildlife we have, and encourage even more birds to come into our gardens.
It is estimated that there are now over 5
million nest boxes in the UK designed to help everything from Robins to Owls. Different types of nesting box attract different birds. So in a box with small holes, you might get Blue Tit’s, Nuthatches, Redstarts or House Sparrows. Boxes with larger holes may encourage Starlings, Spotted Woodpeckers and perhaps even Little Owls; and in very big boxes you might see Kestrels, Jackdaws, Stock Doves and Tawny Owls. There are also open fronted boxes which appeal to Robins, Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Wagtails.
Imagine how lovely it would be to watch the birds going in and out of your boxes and hopefully some young ones hatching there. If you are careful and quiet, you can even peek inside the box from time to time when the eggs are incubating, as most birds will sit tight. If you want to count the eggs, observe in the early morning and wait until the female bird flies off for a quick meal.
You can choose to buy some nest boxes from your local pet store or garden centre, or make some. Instructions for building boxes are available on many internet sites including http://
www.bto.org/ the British Trust for Ornithology site.
Here are some handy hints for siting your nest boxes: 1. Do not put nest boxes of the same type close to each other 2. Open fronted boxes should be hidden from view & sheltered from the weather. 3. Make sure cats cannot get into the boxes 4. Consider putting a metal plate around the hole to deter squirrels
5. Keep the boxes away from bird feeders 6. Place between 1 and 5 metres high, using screws that will not rust.
February is an ideal time to put boxes up, because pairs of small birds prosper towards the end of the month. You are also helping however if you put boxes up at any time of year, although 1 August to the 31 January is the time under Bird Protection Law when nests can be cleaned out, and any dead eggs found destroyed.
60 To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e.
the.wire@btinternet.com
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