Nest boxes are actually primarily used as breeding grounds for birds. But not only the young animals need protection in the first few months. Freezing cold nights can also have a severe impact on adult animals. Bird species that do not fly south therefore like to visit nesting boxes even in winter. Here you can find out how to provide titmice and co. with a welcome winter quarters.
Nest boxes provide shelter for birds and small mammals during the winter
guests in winter
When the days get shorter and the first frost settles on the roofs at night, we retreat to our heated houses. Birds would love to do the same as humans, but often don't have the opportunity and instead have to spend the night on bare branches when the temperature is below zero. A nesting box (€49.85), on the other hand, ensures protection from rain, wind and cold and is therefore often visited by tits. But other bird species and numerous small animals also use the shelter for the winter:
- sparrows
- robin
- wrens
- nuthatch
- squirrel
- dormouse
- dormice
- bats
- and even butterflies
Note the time of cleaning
In order not to disturb or drive away the animals during their hibernation, you should therefore no longer clean your nesting box from October onwards. Late summer and early spring are recommended for this. At this point, you should remove old nests and fecal debris to keep parasites from multiplying.
Attachment Tips
So that a nest box really serves as protection from the weather, you should consider the following when hanging it up:
- Hang up the nest box to protect it from the wind
- protect against moisture with an environmentally friendly varnish
- do not face south (danger of too much sunlight in the coming spring)
Good chance of seeing you again
When it comes to domesticity, birds are very grateful, loyal animals who love habit. If they feel comfortable in their winter quarters, there is a high probability that they will return to the known location to breed.