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When making a list of garden tasks for the autumn months, don’t forget about nest boxes for your garden birds. You’d be forgiven for thinking that they can wait until spring given that National Nest Box Week isn’t until February, but there are several things to bear in mind.

If you haven’t yet put up any nest boxes in your garden, the autumn is the perfect time to do so, not only do you have slightly better access to those tricky to reach spots among the branches now that the leaves are beginning to drop, but this also gives the more selective species plenty of time to check out your chosen abodes and see whether they like the look of it for themselves. The longer that a box is up prior to the nesting period, the better the chances of it being used as the association with humans dwindles and the birds become accustomed to its presence. This also increases the chances of a successful brood come spring.

There are a variety of box types which are suitable for different species, some have a hole on the front, these come in different sizes to suit different birds, others have an open front. You can also get artificial House Martin, Swallow and Swift nests which attach to your home, woven nests which tend to be preferred by Robins and Wrens, and even larger boxes for Kestrels and Owls. The first thing to do is to research what requirements each has, you will need significantly more space for an Owl box for example, or if you are in a rented property, you may need permission to put up a Swift box. Once you’ve decided which to go for, you can move on to the next steps.

When considering where to position your nest box, you will need to think of the sunlight it will be exposed to – the best direction is either North or West facing so that it won’t overheat. The bird will need a clear flight path to the entrance but will still need some cover as if it is too exposed the birds won’t take to it, and the box should be well spaced from any feeders to reduce predation rates. If you can, tilt the box forward slightly when hanging to stop rain from driving in. Once set up, it’s a waiting game – hopefully once spring arrives you can pop the kettle on and sit back to watch the birds exploring and using the boxes you’ve put up for them… a joy!

If you already have boxes up, now is a great time to clean them out. Nest boxes can harbour parasites and so you should take them down. Wearing gloves, remove old nesting materials and carefully scald the box inside and out with boiling water to kill any parasites, scrubbing with a sponge to remove any stubborn dirt. Remember that if there are any unhatched eggs, you can only legally remove them from October to January (inclusive) and that they must be destroyed, it is illegal to keep them. Once cleaned, leave the box outside to dry thoroughly and when it’s dry you can hang it up again, making sure the lid is secure.

In addition to being a spot to bring up their young, many birds roost in nest boxes if the weather is cold. Particularly if you have an open-fronted nest box, the type preferred by Robins, Blackbirds and Wrens, you may find that an existing Wren’s nest is being frequented throughout the colder months as a communal roost for these tiny songsters. They have an endearing way of shuffling around to swap the best positions so that no one individual is left getting cold on the edge and tend to look rather comically like a ball of fluff with lots of tails sticking out. Did you know that the record number of birds in one box was 61 Wrens!?

 

Alice Hunter