Category Archives: Birds

Birds

Insects and bird nesting boxes

Insects and nestboxes

Bees, wasps or earwigs will, on occasions, take over nestboxes and there is little one can do to prevent it – apart from using insect sprays. As many of the insects are useful food for birds, it is best to leave them alone. Insects often move in after birds have finished nesting. Any young found dead are likely to have died of other natural causes.

It is not unusual for the same type of insect to return to the box in subsequent years. Leave that box in situ and put up another one a few feet away. It is rare for both to be lost to insect invasion.

Birds

Cleaning Nest Boxes

Cleaning nest-boxes

The nests of most birds harbor fleas and other parasites, which remain to infest young birds that hatch the following year. We recommend that old nests be removed in the autumn, from Late April onwards once the birds have stopped using the box.

Maintaining your box

Use boiling water to kill any remaining parasites, and let the box dry out thoroughly before replacing the lid. Insecticides and flea powders must not be used.

To maintain the exterior of your nest-box an application of linseed oil applied once a year will help preserve your nesting box for many years to come.

If you place a small handful of clean hay or wood shavings (not straw) in the box once it is thoroughly dry after cleaning, small mammals may hibernate there, or birds may use it as a roost site.

It is quite normal for a few eggs to fail to hatch, or for some young to die. . Cold weather and food shortage may lead to nest desertion, or to only the strongest young surviving. The death of one parent or interference from animals or humans may also cause desertion.

Enjoy!

Avoid inspecting nest-boxes in use, however tempting it may be to take a peek! Simply watch and enjoy from a distance. Only open it up if you’ve got appropriate skills and experience and are taking part in a monitoring project .If you want to see the chicks as they grow, you could consider installing a nest-box camera before the breeding season starts.

Bird Nesting Box
Birds

Siting a Nest-Box

Siting a nest-box
This depends on the species the box is intended for. Boxes for sparrows and starlings should be fixed two to four meters up a tree or a wall.
Unless there are trees or buildings which shade the box during the day, face the box away from strong sunlight and the wettest prevailing winds.


Make sure that the birds have a clear flight path to the nest without any clutter directly in front of the entrance. Tilt the box forward slightly so that any driving rain will hit the roof and bounce clear.
House sparrows and starlings will readily use nest-boxes placed high up under the eaves allowing for a clear flight path. Since these birds nest in loose colonies, two or three can be sited spaced out on the same side of the house. Keep these away from areas where martins normally nest.
Open-fronted boxes for thrushes and blackbirds need to be lower down, below 2m, well hidden by vegetation.

Feeders. Never place a nest box to near to bird feeders or bird tables as high levels of activity of visiting birds could disturb nesting pairs.

Fixing your nest-box with nails may damage the tree. It is better to attach it either with a nylon bolt or with wire around the trunk or branch. Use a piece of hose or rubber around the wire to prevent damage to the tree. Remember that trees grow in girth as well as height, and check the fixing every two or three years.

Two boxes close together may be occupied by the same species if they are at the edge of adjoining territories and there is good supply of food.
By putting up different boxes, several species can be attracted.
Nest-boxes are best put up during the autumn. Many birds will enter nest-boxes during the autumn and winter, looking for a suitable place to roost or perhaps to feed. They often use the same boxes for nesting the following spring.

How you can help
Encourage birds to nest in your garden

Providing food, nest boxes, nesting materials, water, and natural habitat can all help in attracting  birds to become regular visitors and make your garden their home.

Birds

Bird Baths – Positioning & Maintenance

How to Postion and Maintain your Bird Bath

Bird Bath - Hanging - Creative Woodcraft NZ

Location

Bird baths should be placed in a location where cats and other predators are not lurking. Place your hanging bird bath where the birds are able to have a clear view all around. When birds’ feathers are wet and heavy they cannot fly as well. It is suggested to keep at least 1 meter of open space all around, giving the birds the ability to see danger approaching and have enough time to fly away.

A great place to locate a hanging bird bath is under overhanging branches of a tree, as this gives a place for birds to fly to quickly if they are in danger.

For birds to see predators approaching, birds should have clear visibility over the edge of the bird bath as they bathe.

If the bowl is too deep, certain birds will be afraid to enter the bird bath and will remain on the edge only using it for drinking water. The hanging bird bath by Creative Woodcraft is designed with this in mind.

Maintenance and Cleaning

A bird bath requires regular maintenance. Maintenance can be as simple as a daily quick wash and refill, but it does depend on the type of bird bath.

Cleaning your bird bath is important because of the possible adverse health effects of birds drinking dirty water. Concrete bird baths tend to become mossy and, therefore, slippery—requiring an occasional scrubbing out with a stiff brush.

The hanging bird bath by Creative Woodcraft is designed with a removable stainless steel bowl for easy access and cleaning, and has good integrated drainage surrounding the bowl preventing the build-up of stagnant water.

So Remember

  • Plan you location carefully (away from lurking cats).
  • Use a shallow bowl or dish.
  • Keep you product clean (especially if it’s concrete).