nest box time

[rossy]

hello all i know most on here will already have nest boxes up but to anyone new or hasnt got one , nows a good time, the birds will be looking for somewhere to nest. people on here have already seen some activity as the birds use them for roosting. and fingers crossed you get some in and enjoy watching them good luck. rossy.

[Elizabeth B]

The birds are certainly taking an interest in our boxes (though not for roosting). We've already had several visits to Boxes 2 and 3, but a replacement for Box 1 was only installed today - and a bird went inside before my husband had even removed the ladder! (And the external camera hadn't been switched on).

[rossy]

tell me elizabeth how much did the cameras cost please and where did you purchase themfrom regards rossy.

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by rossy

tell me elizabeth how much did the cameras cost please and where did you purchase themfrom regards rossy.

Hi rossy - you'll find this information on the Technical page of our website.

[diggleken]

Hi Elizabeth - with your experience, do you know what, if any, difference it might need to hole size when the wood is quite thick?
We are using 3/4'' to 1'' thick wood fronts and 25mm blue tit size holes, but I noticed last year that blues were trying to open the holes out a bit - so this year, same wood thickness, would 26mm or 27mm be better?
Cheers
Ken

[rossy]

hello ken 25 m or 1 inch is the correct hole size for blue tits and i made 2 boxes 1 thicker about 3/4" and they did the same as yours, nested had young , i then opened up the hole not but much and to my surprise great tits nested had young, blue tits went the year after in the other thinner box3/8" but last year none in either, a pair have been visiting the thinner just lately so hoping they nest. some boxes have a steel plate on them which you probably have seen, but most tits will peck round the hole to suit themselves , hope this helps rossy.

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by diggleken

Hi Elizabeth - with your experience, do you know what, if any, difference it might need to hole size when the wood is quite thick?
We are using 3/4'' to 1'' thick wood fronts and 25mm blue tit size holes, but I noticed last year that blues were trying to open the holes out a bit - so this year, same wood thickness, would 26mm or 27mm be better?
Cheers
Ken

Hi Ken - I discussed this with Malcolm, and we think that there is no need to make the hole bigger if the fronts are ¾" to 1" in thickness. However, we've always used 28mm holes in boxes for bluetits, and 32mm for great tits. (If you go to 9th April 2005 on our website, you'll be able to read how a quick conversion was done to a hole to allow great tits to use the box - it wouldn't go into a 28mm hole).

Incidentally birds always seem to peck round the hole (and the floor and walls), but I think this is just their usual behaviour - I doubt if a bluetit could make a significant difference to the size.

[diggleken]

Thanks a lot both of you, rossy and Elizabeth, thats good news - and behaviour we see all the time anyway to peck so much - we could only find 28mm bits today, so used that, but, reassured, will continue tomorrow with that size!
Cheers
Ken