Guide to Choosing your Nest Box

Just as you want a safe place to live wildlife do too!  The lack of suitable habitat is one of the biggest causes of declines in wildlife populations. You can help to support wildlife in your gardens by providing suitable habitats. This can easily be done for birds by providing perfect nest boxes and nesting sites.

No Nesting, no birds

Whilst putting out food and providing fresh water is a great help to the garden bird population, without any nesting sites, they are unable to raise the next generation and your garden will only ever be a passing meal.  To ensure the nest site is of the most use to the birds, it is very important that they are near to foraging locations, where they can find plenty of insects without being out of the nest for long

Which Box is best?

Most people think of the classic "Box" nest box / site when thinking of this.  However it is not quite as straight forward as that.  Just like humans choose different beds, different birds prefer different styles f nesting site.  This is usually centred around safety.  There are lots of things that would if given the chance eat either the adult birds or the baby chicks and eggs.  For instance a hole that the adult can only just get through means nothing larger can get into the nest as well as providing maximum protection from the elements.

How to choose a nest box

Small birds such as blue tits and great tits are happy in small nest boxes, while others such as swifts may need more specialist homes.  So before choosing your nest box, take time to watch the birds in your garden, or think about what type of birds you might like to encourage into your garden.  You can then provide the most appropriate nesting site for the right species.

Starlings & Sparrows

Starling numbers have gone down dramatically, however they very easily take to new nest boxes. Why not give them a safe place to roost and raise chicks with a classic nest box.  Sparrows also like this style of nest box, but generally prefer a smaller hole.

Robins

Robins prefer what is called an open front nest box instead of a hole.  These look very similar to the traditional ones with holes, but have half of their front cut away. We have good options for this style available and you can see robins in your garden all year round.