As natural nesting opportunities for birds continue to decline, the value of man-made dwellings continues to increase. But the feathered friends remain choosy, because they want to offer their offspring the best possible protection.
Trees with dense foliage are ideal for hanging nest boxes
Birds like quiet
Young birds are easy prey for various predators in the nest and later during their first attempts at flight. To make it more difficult for predators to hunt and to offer the birds a safe environment, you should hang the nesting box (€49.85) at a minimum height of 150 to 200 centimetres. A placement directly in the bushes is ideal, because the branches offer optimal protection for the young birds, which are still unable to fly, in the first few days after they have left the nest. However, the entry area should be free of obstacles.
The right direction
Wind and weather pose potential dangers to the brood. The ideal location is in a north to south-east orientation. If it is not possible for you to hang it in these cardinal directions, make sure you have adequate weather protection. You don't have to fill the nest box with straw or sawdust, because the animals build their nest themselves.
Tips for hanging:
- Shade south-facing nest boxes with leaves
- East-facing dwellings should be hung forward
- Use eaves and climbing plants for shelter
tips
Half-open boxes offer the birds less protection than fully closed models. In the case of nesting possibilities with open fronts, you have to pay even more attention to a protected suspension.
avoid conflicts
Each bird uses a different nest box. How many bird boxes you can fit in your garden depends on the species you want to encourage. House sparrows, house martins, starlings and swifts are considered colony breeders, which also show no problems in the immediate vicinity of conspecifics. The prerequisite is that there is enough food, water and cover for the pairs.
Keep your distance
If blue and great tits breed in your garden, you should ensure a minimum distance of three meters between the individual dwellings. Territorial behavior is even greater in small songbirds of a species. They defend their territory against foreign invaders looking for food. Here the nests must be placed at least ten meters apart.