If you hang up a nesting box in the garden, you want to make it as comfortable as possible for the animals. Many a bird lover thinks of filling the nesting box so that the nesting guest can, so to speak, sit down in the nest that has been made. But does that really make sense? And if so, what material is suitable for filling a nest box?
It is best for birds to fill the nest box themselves
Fill the nest box?
Even if you mean well, it is usually not necessary to equip a nesting box (€49.85) ready for occupancy. The birds prefer to build their nests themselves. Most of the time they find the necessary material in the garden. If you still want to help the animals at work, you can provide some hay or put it in the aviary right away. The guests gladly accept the soft surface. However, they are unsuitable for filling a nesting box
- sawdust
- and straw
keep record
If you want to make it easier for the birds to build their nests, we recommend observing the different species and documenting their appearance. This will make it easier for you to adapt the material provided in the coming year.
Identify bird species by their nesting material
Did you know that the material the nest is made of reveals the nesting bird species? Here two examples:
tits:
- soft material like hay
- often animal hair
Nuthatch:
- tree bark
- dry leaves
time of cleaning
While you don't necessarily have to fill your nest box, cleaning is important to keep parasites from spreading in the bird feeder. In addition, boxes that already contain nests are not accepted by new birds. It is best to remove the nests in late summer or early spring so as not to disturb the brood and to offer the animals a place to overwinter. You can simply dispose of the old nest in the compost or use it as decoration.