As of: February 2, 2024, 7:30 p.m
By: Yannik Lurz
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Height, orientation, distance to identical nesting aids – if you want to provide birds with a home, you need more than just a bird house.
There are a few things to consider here.
Tits, nuthatches, flycatchers – these are
common residents of birdhouses, according to
the German Nature Conservation Association (NABU) .
If you want to observe the small birds in your own garden, you often hang up a nesting box.
It's actually quite simple: buy a nesting aid, nail it to a tree and you're ready to move in!
But there are a few things you should keep in mind if you want to experience hustle and bustle in the garden soon.
1. Hang the birdhouse: Pay attention to the appropriate height
The birdhouse is a safe retreat for birds: but only at the right height.
© Konstanin Kokoshkin/IMAGO
Ideally, you should place the nesting boxes two or three meters from the ground.
Make sure that possible nest predators such as cats have difficulty accessing them.
You will often find manufacturer information in the instructions for use: If this differs from two to three meters, stick to the information in the instructions.
2. Orient the entrance of the nest box towards the east or southeast
From the south, the blazing sun beats down on the nest, the brooding parents and the vulnerable young birds - this is particularly damaging to the offspring.
Also avoid facing west, the so-called weather side.
In Germany, the German Weather Service associates this with bad weather.
Wind and rain would blow into the birdhouse.
If the rain does come from another direction, hanging the nesting aids correctly will protect the residents.
Tilt the nesting box slightly forward; under no circumstances should it overhang backwards.
You can find even more exciting garden topics in the regular newsletter from our partner 24garten.de.
3. How to attach a birdhouse
Stainless steel nails or sturdy hangers are suitable for hanging a birdhouse.
The latter have the advantage that they do not damage the tree.
4. Ensure food availability – keep your distance
The following applies, especially when it comes to nesting aids of the same design: Do not hang the birdhouses too close to each other.
With a minimum distance of ten meters you can ensure that the animals do not compete too much for food.
The exception are birds that breed in colonies – swallows, for example.
5. Hang the birdhouse in autumn
NABU
recommends installing nesting boxes in autumn
.
In this way you offer birds and other animals a place to overwinter.
In a nutshell: five tips for birdhouses
Maintain a distance of two to three meters from the ground
Orient the entrance of the birdhouse towards the east or southeast
Use stainless nails or wire hangers
Ensure a distance of at least ten meters between identical nesting boxes
Hang up nesting aids in the fall
By the way: These rules also apply to bird feeders (promotional link).