| Nest
Box Challenge
National Nest Box Week was in February and
local nature conservation charity, the Ulster Wildlife Trust
encouraged everyone to put up a nest box in their garden,
to make sure garden birds had plenty of homes this spring.
It is never to late to help out our feathered friends. If
you would like to do something, here are the Ulster Wildlife
Trust's top nest box tips:
Waste not, want not
An old kettle or flowerpot pushed sideways into a hedge
can make a perfect nesting site for robins and is kind
on your pocket too. However, if you do use unconventional
items make sure they’re safe and can’t fill
with water.
Make your own
There’s nothing more satisfying than watching a
young family being raised in a nest box you have made yourself.
For best results use thick wood to increase insulation,
include a hinged lid for ease of cleaning and drill small
holes in the base for drainage.
Size Matters
The species of bird that a nest box attracts will depend
on its size. For example, blue tits use small, traditional
boxes with a small entrance hole whereas starlings need
a bigger model with a larger entrance hole. Robins and
wrens, on the other hand will choose an open-fronted box
hidden in vegetation.
Location, Location!
Site your nest box in a sheltered position on a tree or
wall at about head height, avoiding the midday sun and
prevailing winds. Also avoid sites that expose the box
to disturbance by humans, predators and other birds.
Create the right habitat
Providing the right habitat surrounding your nest box
is also important. Berry-bearing shrubs will provide shelter
and food, bird baths or ponds are essential for water,
whilst thrushes love to forage in compost heaps.
Keep it clean
In the late autumn, when the fledglings have left the
nest, be sure to remove any old nesting materials and clean
the box thoroughly with soap and boiling water to kill
any parasites.
For further information, please contact:
Kelly Muldoon on 028 4483 0282 or email kelly.muldoon@ulsterwildlifetrust.org
To get advice log on to the
Ulster Wildlife Trust.org
Or go to the British Trust for Ornithology at www.BTO.org or
to
Living
with Birds
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On in Northern Ireland >>
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