Hashim, don't face it south! You may end up frying the chicks. I've got some facing east and some facing west and they only use the west facing ones...go figure
Also if you are making the box to suit sparrows, remember that they are a social bird and as such nest boxes can be made wider or linked together.
In respect of direction, I have nest boxes facing all manner of direction and all get used. The reason that I haven't been too concerned, is that the garden is wooded and shaded so doesn't get any full summer sun. A clear and safe flight line is more important for me when I put them up.
It is easier to access the box if you screw the front on rather than the top. You don't have to be as high up the ladder when cleaning the box. Top access is only needed if you need to look at the chicks.
If I put up several boxes with different size openings for different birds, how far apart should they be? Should they go on the back of the studio facing North, though there is a strong security light there which responds to movement; on the East side is a lean to greenhouse which might confuse the birds. If placed in a tree, how to fasten them there without using screws?
Last spring there was a pair of robins, a pair of wrens and a pair of blackbirds, all of which had successful nests in one Climbing Hydrangea on the wall of my office - from that I take it that different breeds will tolerate other nests nearby - our blue tits raised two broods in a nest box fixed at about 6 ft height facing nor' nor' west on the trunk of a mature ash tree. The things to think about are a sheltered perching point about 12 - 20 ft away and a clear flight path from there to the nestbox.
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Hashim, don't face it south! You may end up frying the chicks. I've got some facing east and some facing west and they only use the west facing ones...go figure
Thanks
Das
THE REAR OF MY HOME FACES EAST THE FRONT WEST AND THE SIDE SOUTH , NORTH IS THE NEIGHBOURS HOUSE ATTACHED
WHERE WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE TO SITE A BIRDBOX WITH A CAMERA INSIDE IT?
ROB
Das, the box as shown http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/wildlife-gardening/how-to-make-your-own-bird-box/31.html is very simple to make, but if you fancy something slightly different and have the ability/tools, you could always move away from a conventional shape and have some fun.
Also if you are making the box to suit sparrows, remember that they are a social bird and as such nest boxes can be made wider or linked together.
In respect of direction, I have nest boxes facing all manner of direction and all get used. The reason that I haven't been too concerned, is that the garden is wooded and shaded so doesn't get any full summer sun. A clear and safe flight line is more important for me when I put them up.
If I put up several boxes with different size openings for different birds, how far apart should they be? Should they go on the back of the studio facing North, though there is a strong security light there which responds to movement; on the East side is a lean to greenhouse which might confuse the birds. If placed in a tree, how to fasten them there without using screws?
Last spring there was a pair of robins, a pair of wrens and a pair of blackbirds, all of which had successful nests in one Climbing Hydrangea on the wall of my office - from that I take it that different breeds will tolerate other nests nearby - our blue tits raised two broods in a nest box fixed at about 6 ft height facing nor' nor' west on the trunk of a mature ash tree. The things to think about are a sheltered perching point about 12 - 20 ft away and a clear flight path from there to the nestbox.
Info about how to fix here http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/nestboxes/smallbirds/siting.aspx
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.