I am 'now' successfully feeding our local birds (mostly Sparrows) at the front of the house, but I'm having less success at the back.
I installed this very well built and solid bird box about 4 years ago, and although it is in a secure position, it has yet to have any residents. I haven't even seen any birds having a tour of inspection.
It has a good watertight roof, the inside is clean and 'cosy', and it is situated away from prying Cats or Foxes. In other words (to me) it seems ideal for a blossoming family of Blue or Great Tits.
I suppose I could hang a seed-filled feeder nearby to attract them, but that may prove to be counter-productive.
Anyway, I've given it a clean, installed a 'Vacant' sign, and am crossing my fingers.
For heaven's sake; it even has Roses around the door (or it will have). What more could they possibly want!
24 comments:
I know precious little about plants but suspect it's the rose. Try swapping it for a clematis. The white flowering one works a treat with sparrows here and it smells nice, is evergreen and only needs trimming once a year in Feb/Mar. Don't trim after that as they'll be nesting and only townies cut hedges in summer.
A bird box builder told me the best place for a bird box is high up with the entrance facing north/north-east.
I'd be hanged drawn and quartered if I touched that Rose! It'll HAVE to stay.
Ours faces due South; I wonder if that's the problem? Thanks.
I wonder if the bird box looks a little exposed up there with very little green coverage. Adrian's idea of a climbing Clematis sounds like a good idea.
South facing will cook the chicks. North facing is best. Roses, no problem. Our nest box is surrounded by a very energetic climbing rose. Ours is only 5 foot off the ground but very sheltered. Also, cut the perch off if you want blue tits. They don't need it and it's easier for slightly bigger birds such as great tits to land and enter the nest and do damage. Which they do. Gawd blimey, it's complicated! 😁
When the Rose grows, it gives good cover and I keep the hole clear of branches.
Unfortunately we don't have a suitable North facing wall. I shall have to think about it.
I was also going to say that they have to face a certain direction, and have perching places nearby.
I was amused that you have a " tit box". Have you seen " Small Prophets"? One of the funnier parts of that is about tit boxes. I have watched the series twice already. (It was written by Mackenzie Crook and is fascinating on many levels. )
Direction is just one part of your problem, Cro...
Boxes need to be facing at right angles to the prevailing winds... West-South-West is favourite, East-Nor-East is second favourite. Due South is an absolute no-no!
Also nest hole size is important... around 28mm for tits, 35mm for sparrows starlings, etc... and for a wren, a much smaller box and a 22 to 24mm hole is more attractive.... for robins, just an open fronted box is fine [or an old Brown Bess teapot that lost its lid... has a natural drain hole too!
Finally, get rid of that perch... it is purely decorative, allows predators like rats and magpies to access the fledglings and hampers the bird's approach to the entrance... basically, it hits them in the belly. The rose supplies the perfect perch for an adult with food to wait if the other one is inside... all else, a perch is not needed.
Here endeth the lesson!!
What more could they want? Perhaps a sunny spot or maybe even a shady spot - also a smart TV and internal plumbing.
No wonder it's not being used. I'd imagined they'd be queueing up!!!
I've seen it advertised (promoted) but have yet to watch it. I'll add it to the list.
It's already 'Luxury Living'; the Avian equivalent of Rayner's sea-front Hove apartment.
Des res! Took me 2 reads to get that. But I am slow. I laugh at jokes after 5 minutes of chewing them over
Hope something Des finds your Res
Sorry; it's an old English expression. I'd imagined it was universal.
Others are offering advice, I will just say the three keys to property are location, location, location.
You say it's facing south, that's the problem Cro! North is best, facing south it will get all day sun and the baby birds will be frying in the summer heat. Also, don't put a feeder near it, they like to be away from birdfeeders where other larger birds will be. If you can have roses around it in an alternative position that would be great because it'll provide the birds with aphids.
Which applies to birds' homes as well. I'm slowly learning!
I shall move it to a leafier, but East facing spot. Nothing else is available. I might even give it to my son, up the road.
I am watching small birds gathering nesting materials but have no idea where the building is taking place. I suspect they find their own bush or tree to set up home. I throw their food out on the lawn, they come down for their meals twice a day. I think nature sorts itself out. My ducks have just landed, got to go out and feed them.
I've NEVER seen a bird's nest here in Brighton; other than Pigeons. They must be all around somewhere, but they are well hidden.
All my birdhouses face North-East and they are all occupied.
I have never seen a birdhouse mounted to a brick facing. That is original.
Given the comments by others, it seems you could make a few changes to succeed and have an occupant.
Ys, it looks as if I've got it all wrong. I shall change it.
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