ST201902

NEST (^) | GARDENS
WHAT BOX FOR
WHICH BIRD?
Choose your nestbox according to the
species on your wishlist (but be realistic
– a tawny owl, for example, is unlikely to
settle anywhere other than a large
garden with trees). The access holes
vary in diameter according to the size of
the user – while 25mm suits a blue tit, a
jackdaw requires 150mm.
Enclosed types, which mimic the
natural nest sites of old tree cavities,
attract many species, but blackbirds,
robins, pied wagtails, wrens, spotted
flycatchers and pigeons opt for open
ones. Some birds, including the tree
creeper, prefer contact with the trunk of
their arboreal host, so an open-backed
style works best (wildlifeworld.co.uk).
Naturally, the woodpecker is well
disposed to a little DIY so there are
types available with an entrance that is
only partially drilled (see right).
More bowl than box, the swallow’s
nest can be bought in prefab form,
giving the much-loved creature, which
arrives in April and May, a head-start on
its family home (swallows’ nests are
best placed in an outbuilding where
lower light levels deter predators).
Other factors will also influence who
moves in – jackdaws need to nest
towards the top of a mature tree or five
metres from the ground, while house
sparrows favour a terraced house
design. For those sited lower down, if
you’ve a cat liable to hunt nestlings,
there are boxes that guard against
meddling felines (simonkingwildlife.com).
Whichever design you choose, if
you’ve not only been able to feed birds
in your garden, but accommodate them
and their young, too, that’s definitely a
feather in your cap.
Swift Nestbox | £29.99
Treat this species to a new design from the
RSPB for the 12 weeks of the year during which
it isn’t on the wing. shopping.rspb.org.uk
Everyday Multi Nest Box | £5.99
Made from FSC-certified timber to attract an
array of avian visitors with its interchangeable
open and closed front options. crocus.co.uk
Contemporary Urban Nest Box | £24.99
With its sleek good looks and recycled
materials, this is a great choice for town-
dwelling bird lovers. simonkingwildlife.com
Dovecote Bird Box | £27.99
A highly decorative addition for a traditional
country garden, which can accommodate a
wide variety of birds. gardenature.co.uk
Simon King Brushwood Nester | £8.99
An open-fronted woven style that can be
hidden among foliage to suit its intended
inhabitant, the robin. simonkingwildlife.com
Natural Woodpecker Nest Box | £26.99
Comprising a hollowed-out birch log with an
enlargeable hole and removable roof, this
should fit the bill. gardenature.co.uk
SIX BIRDY BOARDING HOUSES
Homes and habitats for every type of feathered visitor
PHOTOGRAPHY: RSPB IMAGES