Wild birds always need a good hiding place, and building a nesting box yourself can help your feathered friends. Natural nesting sites are hard to find these days, and a nesting box in the garden area can make all the difference for native birds. You don't need any special prior knowledge and you can also proceed sustainably by using reused materials for the DIY project. In addition, painting the nesting box can add a personal and decorative touch to your garden. Here are some simple instructions that can be followed carefully to host a brood of young birds in your garden area.
Before you build your own nesting box
An open-fronted box like this would be the best way to attract robins and wrens to your garden. However, you need to place open nesting boxes in well-hidden locations to prevent eggs and chicks from being exposed to the threat of predators and bad weather. In addition, there are two variants for the entrance – open and with a hole. The overall dimensions for open front boxes are identical to those with small hole entrances. The big difference concerns the front panel, which you can cut to three different heights depending onwhat type of bird you attractwant.
- The medium height option (approx. 100mm deep) will attract a wide range of birds including the ever popular robin.
- The high facade (approx. 140 mm) is best suited for wrens.
- A low front (about 60mm) would be best for Spotted Flycatchers.
The access holes on the low and medium height fronts are large enough to allow you to inspect and clean the nests without removing the roof. It is best to attach it with nails or screws. In contrast, the high front option requires a removable roof, especially if you position your nest box in a hard-to-reach location. If you choose to build the standard design with the roof higher at the back, the overhang should be large enough to prevent rain. Another design option that keeps the interior dry better is to vary the heights of the side walls so that the roof slopes towards one side. However, this may require a little more skill, but it eliminates any risk of rainwater draining into the entrance.
Which location to choose for the nesting box?
Eggs and chicks in open-faced nest boxes are at greater risk from predation. These can be magpies, gray squirrels and cats. So think about them carefullyPlacement of your nest boxto minimize accessibility. Hiding a box in or behind a bush is a defense, or you could attach it to a high wall out of reach of many predators.
If these options are not available to you, consider placing a stiff wire guard in front of the entrance. The gaps must be large enough to allow parent birds to enter freely, but small enough to exclude hunters. For example, robins are known for seeking well-hidden nesting sites, but spotted flycatchers prefer open spots so that the perching bird can clearly see the surroundings. Keep this in mind when building and setting up your nesting box.
Tips for building nesting boxes with a hole
This would be the perfect nesting box for woodworking beginners and people who only have small gardens. Such a design will meet the needs of a wide range of birds and can be made from new or recycled wood. A successfully constructed box must have side walls and a roof that are waterproof. To avoid the risk of the interior becoming waterlogged, it also makes sense to drill drainage holes in the floor.
Typically, you need a few components to make a small box from a single board. As a rough guide, if you make your nest box wide enough to accommodate an adult human hand, you will have an easy time removing used nesting material at the end of the breeding season. Here are other factors you should consider:
- Make sure your roof panel is long enough to overlap the side where the entrance hole is. This prevents rainwater from dripping in and can also provide shade.
- A piece of wood large enough to allow all sides of the box to overlap is better for weather protection.
- Adding a sloping roof will allow rain to drain freely, but a flat-topped nest box is also fine if you attach it to a tree so the entry hole faces slightly downward.
- Nesting birds prefer a box with the hole in the front panel rather than on the side. A hole in the front is likely to provide better visibility for a bird exiting the box, making it easier for it to spot potential predators.
Follow simple steps and build a nesting box
This guide will walk you through making a nesting box suitable for small and nesting migratory birds such as tits, tree swallows, thrushes and nuthatches. To follow these instructions, you may need tools that you may not have with you but can be found at a hardware store. Additionally, the dimensions do not necessarily have to be precise. Make the nest box using available and recycled materials instead of purchasing ones that fit specific dimensions. There is therefore no standardized, precise design for a nesting box. Namely, birds do not insist that their nesting sites be mathematically precise. What they need is a safe and weatherproof nesting place that is as safe as possible from predators. Here are the materials you need for this:
- A wooden board, 15cm x 1.4m long x 1.5-1.8cm thick and not impregnated
- Pencil and tape measure
- saw
- Nails
- A strip of waterproof rubber
- drill
- Optional: a hole saw for making 3.2 cm holes
- Leiter
- screws
- Water based paint
This is how you can build the nesting box
- First, mark the panels of the future nest box with a pencil and ruler and write the name of each panel on the marked wood.
- Saw the panels apart. You will need to make a diagonal cut at a 45 degree angle between the front panel and the roof.
- Decide what type of box you want to make and adjust the front accordingly:Box for tits with hole– use a hand support or a drill to drill a round entrance hole: 25 mm diameter for blue tits; 28 mm diameter for great tits; 38mm diameter for sparrows.
- Open fronted robin box - simply saw 75mm off the top edge of the front panel to create a 'window' entrance.
- First, start building your nest box by nailing one of the sides through the back onto the back panel. It is best to nail to the floor. This step can be quite tricky, so be careful not to splinter the wood.
- Then nail all other panels except the roof panel.
- If your joinery is of a high standard, with evenly proportioned panels and snug fitting joints, you will need to drill some small holes (1-2mm diameter) in the base plate to allow for drainage. Attach it to the roof panel with a rubber hinge made from scrap rubber. This should completely cover the joint between the roof and the rear wall so that it is waterproof.
- Nail the rubber into the backing board first, then pull it tightly over the joint and nail it to the roof. The roof should be able to be lifted off like a lid.
- After construction, treat the outside of the box only with a water-based wood preservative and do not use creosote to extend its life and repel water. If using planed wood, clear polyurethane can be used instead.
- Decorate your box by painting it with the color of your choice.
- Once you've assembled your nesting box, attach a piece of roofing felt to the roof to extend the life of the box and make it even more waterproof.
Tips for cleaning the nest box and bird watching
After the end of each breeding season, you should dismantle all nest boxes and remove old nesting materials. Then scald the wooden box with boiling water to eliminate parasites. However, do not use insecticides or flea powder as they can be dangerous for future birds. Boiling water should be enough. The best time to carry out the annual cleaning is in October or November. If there are unhatched eggs in the nesting box, you can remove them from October to January inclusive.
Once your nest box is in place, you'll need to be patient and wait for the birds to start looking for a home in the spring. However, there is no guarantee that they will use your box. However, if you are lucky, you should see or hear the males chirping proudly near or even from the roof of the box. Migratory birds are sensitive to nest disturbance and you should observe them from a distance. You can even raise multiple broods there in one season if you build your own nesting box.
Also read: “PREPARE THE NEST BOX FOR WINTER: WHICH STEPS ARE TAKEN TO SECURE THE PROTECTION SPACES FOR WILD BIRDS?“
