When is the best time to put up a bird box?
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The best time to put up a bird box is in autumn or early winter, but you can do it any time of year:
|
Time of year |
Reason |
|---|---|
|
Autumn or early winter |
Many birds start looking for a nest site as early as January, and the box can also provide a warm shelter for roosting birds |
|
Spring |
Pairs begin to prospect in the latter half of February, so a box put up at the end of the winter can attract nesting birds |
Here are some tips for putting up a bird box:
- Secure it: Use wire to secure the box to a tree, fence post, or building to keep it safe from the weather.
- Provide a natural habitat: Include native plants in your garden to attract insects that the birds need to raise their young.
- Clean it out: At the end of the season, clean out the nest box to reduce parasites that could live inside the box for the following season.
- Don't keep peeking: If birds take up residence in your nest box, try to watch them from a distance so the parents don't abandon the nest.
