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Common Questions Watching birds nesting in your garden can be very rewarding, especially if they are in a purpose built nest box. Tits are particularly happy to use boxes and are always a delight. Nest boxes are excellent substitutes for the holes found in old trees. In many gardens there may be plenty of food for small birds but nowhere for them to nest. · Which birds will use a nest box? Over 60 species are known to have used nest boxes, including of course blue and great tits. Among the others are coal tits, nuthatches, house and tree sparrows, starlings, spotted flycatchers, robins, house martins, kestrels and tawny owls. · What can I use to keep the nest boxes in good condition? The Birdcam nest boxes are already treated with a water-based preservative, but it is suggested that nest boxes are re-painted every couple of years. Apply any wood preservative only to the outside of the box, and not around the entrance hole. Whatever you use, make sure the box dries and aires thoroughly before you put it up again. · Where should the box be placed? Fix the Birdcam nest box two to five metres up a tree or wall, out of the reach of cats and curious humans! Unless there are trees or buildings which give permanent shelter, it is best facing between north and south-east, thus avoiding strong sunlight and the wettest winds. Tilt the box forward slightly so that any driving rain will hit the roof and bounce clear. House sparrows and starlings will readily use nest boxes placed high up under the eaves and these will often deter the birds from nesting in your roof! But keep well away from areas where house martins normally nest. · How should I attach my Birdcam nest box to a tree? If using a nail to attach the nest box to a tree make sure it is aluminium which does least damage to the tree. · How close together can nest boxes be positioned? Two boxes of the same kind may both be occupied if they are at the edge of adjoining territories and if there is plenty of natural food. Tits can, however, be very aggressive and seldom nest at densities greater than two or three pairs per acre. You may get tits to nest in one box and robins or wrens in another type nearby. · Should the Birdcam nest box be cleaned out each year? The nests of most birds harbour fleas and other parasites which remain to infest young birds that hatch the following year. It is recommended that old nests are removed in October or November. If there are unhatched eggs in the box, these may be removed legally only between October and January, and most be disposed of. If you place a small handful of clean hay or wood shavings (not straw) in the box once it is thoroughly dry after cleaning, it may be used during the winter by small mammals or birds for hibernating or roosting respectively. · Why are there dead young or unhatched eggs in the box? It is quite normal of a few eggs to fail to hatch, or for some young to die. Blue and great tits lay up to 14 eggs to allow for such losses. · Why do tits hammer away at the entrance hole? This is probably a form of display by the male, rather than an attempt to enlarge the hole. Later, the female will also peck vigorously. Natural holes may have all the surrounding bark chipped away. This may help her to judge how soft the wood is and whether the hole will provide a safe, predator proof home in which to raise her brood. Blue and great tits will also hammer at the inside of a box or nest hole, perhaps as a form of display. · Why do tits enter nest boxes in autumn and winter? They may be looking for a suitable place to sleep or perhaps feed. Roosting boxes are often subsequently used for nesting. Tits will not seriously inspect potential nest sites until February or March.

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