With a nesting box, you provide birds with a comfortable home, which unfortunately is becoming increasingly difficult to find due to increasing civilisation. The animals will thank you with happy singing and colorful activity. So why not hang up several hatcheries at once? However, you should note that birds also prefer a certain distance from their neighbors. On this page you can read about the distance to a neighboring birdhouse.
Nest boxes should not hang too close together
The right distance
The Nature Conservation Union recommends a distance of at least ten meters so that the birds feel comfortable. The necessity is based on the breeding behavior of the animals. Many species claim their own territory, in which they do not tolerate any intruders, especially during the breeding season. The appropriate distance prevents competition.
It is different with nesting boxes for different bird species. The animals do not see each other as rivals, but still need their own "privacy" of about three meters.
exceptional cases
Only sparrows and starlings, which feel quite comfortable in company.
Different heights
Several nesting boxes in the garden increase the variety of species for visitors. But every bird species has different demands on the home provided. Therefore, you should not only consider the horizontal distance, but also attach the birdhouses at different heights.
Note: In general, you should allow for a height of 1.5-2 meters to give cats no chance of reaching the entrance hole. Also, the entrance hole should never be exactly at eye level, so that the birds do not feel they are being observed.
number of nest boxes
Many nesting boxes in the garden may look nice, but sometimes they do not fulfill the desired purpose. If the conditions are not right, the home is often not occupied. The amount of bird houses depends on
- the space capacities
- the biodiversity of your region
- the surrounding range of breeding sites
- the available food supply