Bird Nesting Boxes

Tell us about your experiences with nest boxes and other artificial bird nesting sites

What birds do you know using nesting boxes?

Wherever you live in the world we'd love to here from you about the artificial nest boxes or nesting sites created for birds.

Ordinary nest boxes, unusual nestboxes, boxes used by unusual species, boxes used by birds that don't normally use boxes, owl boxes, raptor boxes, sparrow boxes, colonial nesting boxes, nesting platforms, nesting trays, flycatchers boxes ...well you get the drift.

Have you got a nest box project on the go, are you thinking about a nest box scheme, what birds nest in boxes in your area, got a new idea about boxes, species that you think might use nest boxes....

We're going to keep a world list of species that use nestboxes ( or at least some sort of artificial place intentionally made by man. Tell us the ones you know ...

Got a good link for information about nestboxes? tell us , we'll add it to the links here

And why not send us a picture .....

Saturday 19 June 2010

Come on England what are you doing ! Saving it till Wednesday, no doubt.

Peter Thomson sent me a nice pic of a Tree Sparrow yesterday, the Eurasian one of course. Currently on their second broods in the UK, and they could have three broods, and lots of reports of youngsters appearing now at bird tables, they are becoming more of a garden bird in rural areas.

If you want to put up boxes for Tree Sparrows make sure they have a 28mm entrance hole, any smaller and they won't be able to squeeze in, and bigger and House Sparrows might take over.

Sunday 13 June 2010

Another dreary day for weather in the UK, and what with the football last night ..good grief ..it's enough to make you want to go to work!

Had an interesting email about a guy in the UK who captured on a nestbox webcam a young Tree Sparrow ( Eurasian not American ) killing three of five young blue tits. The bird must be still too young to breed, even coming from the first brood, so can only be doing it as it wants a roosting site. Get some more boxes up I say, but then I would wouldn't I .

No but seriously, I keep stressing this, that if you have a successful series of birds nesting in your garden, all the youngsters are going to have to ship out if there aren't enough roosting places. So a few more boxes around the place will alleviate the stress even if they aren't used for breeding, and keep the birds in the area.

Had a nice email enquiry this morning from a guy wanting some Woodland B'Boxes, looks like Google is kicking in.

Saturday 12 June 2010

What bird species do you know that breed or roost in nest boxes?

What bird species do you know that breed or roost in nest boxes ( or artificial sites made by man specifically for birds? ) Nestboxes are the obvious sites but it could be a purpose-made ledge, or raft etc.

Tell me what species you know, I'll keep a record of the results, a world list, and update it here once a week.