As of: February 20, 2024, 5:30 a.m
By: Laura Hindelang
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A nesting box can be a joy for both birds and the hobby gardener.
If you want to install a breeding aid, there are a few things you should definitely pay attention to.
Nesting boxes not only create new habitats, but also enable bird watching in your own garden.
Many species, including black redstarts and swifts, seek proximity to humans and like to breed in their own garden - provided the nesting box is hung correctly.
You can attach the bird house to trees, house walls or on the balcony.
To ensure that the boxes become a safe and attractive place for the birds, there are several points to consider.
Otherwise the nesting box will either remain empty or the offspring will be exposed to danger.
Mistake number 1: Hanging up the nesting box too late
The breeding season begins in spring, but the nesting box should ideally be hung up in the fall beforehand, advises the
Bavarian Agricultural Weekly.
In the cold winter months, birds, small mammals and insects can use the nesting box to sleep and overwinter.
If that seems too early, you should install the birdhouse by the end of February at the latest.
Some bird species, such as the blackbird, start breeding early.
In order for nesting boxes to be a safe haven for birds, they must be installed correctly.
© Zoonar/Imago
To ensure that old nesting boxes are ready for use again in a timely manner, cleaning them should be integrated into garden maintenance in autumn, says Heinz Kowalski from the German Nature Conservation Association (Nabu) in an interview with Stiftung
Warentest
.
Mistake number 2: The wrong location for the nesting box
The nesting box should be hung two to three meters above the ground.
The exact height can vary depending on the bird species.
For species that like things differently, you can usually find a corresponding note in the building instructions.
The weather conditions are almost more important than the altitude.
Nabu
recommends orienting nesting boxes to the east or southeast
.
There are several reasons for this.
If possible, the bird house should not be exposed to the blazing sun (towards the south).
The heat harms the brood and can even have fatal consequences for the offspring.
Wet conditions can also be dangerous for young birds.
Since rain usually comes from the west, it makes little sense to hang the incubator in this direction.
To ensure that no rain gets into the interior through the entrance hole, the birdhouse should never overhang to the rear, rather to the front.
The entrance hole should also remain freely accessible throughout the year and not be blocked by growing branches.
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While some birds, such as starlings and swallows, prefer to breed in colonies, other species prefer peace and quiet.
To ensure that there are no territorial fights and that every bird finds enough food for its offspring, nesting aids of the same type should be hung at intervals of at least ten meters, writes the
Bavarian Agricultural Weekly.
Mistake number 3: Too little protection for the nesting box
In addition to the weather, predators such as martens and cats can be dangerous to the brood.
Therefore, the nesting box should definitely be out of reach of enemies.
For example, by not nailing the birdhouse to the tree trunk, but instead hanging it in the branches with a wire.
“The birds don’t mind that the box rocks and the cats have a hard time getting to it,” says Heinz Kowalski from Nabu in an interview with
Stiftung Warentest
.
When hanging up nesting boxes, you should also consider protection from predators.
© Angle/Imago
Certain devices can also keep predators away, including:
Cat repellent belt for the trees
Metal cuffs
Smooth bars
Attention: If you build the nesting box yourself, you should not attach a pole in front of the entrance hole - a common mistake when building nesting boxes.
A pole is of little use to the birds and makes it easier for nest robbers such as jays or magpies to gain access to the offspring, warns Nabu expert Kowalski.
The garden also has to fit
Whether birds settle in the nesting box depends largely on the environment.
The nesting box is of no use if the garden is not designed to be bird-friendly.
Heinz Kowalski recommends growing seed-bearing herbs in the garden and creating colorful meadows and tall shrubs.
Beech hedges and dense bushes offer well-protected hiding places for the birds.
Herbs and seeds also attract insects, which are then eaten by birds.
If something is missing in this ecosystem chain, the birds end up with too little food, explains the Nabu expert.
People can also provide a treat for the birds in the garden; peanut butter, for example, is very popular with local species.
When the birds notice that there is enough food nearby, they like to move into the nesting boxes.