Post by matt on Apr 5, 2019 14:05:46 GMT
Hope is fading (but not dead, yet!) for getting a nest in one of my three boxes this year, so I have started turning my thoughts to next season. It goes without saying I suppose that I want to do everything possible to maximise the chances of getting a nest next year. Since I do have bluetits locally, and all of my boxes were thoroughly checked out from December onward, they obviously decided that they liked someone else's box more than mine - I really want to make sure that is not the case next year, and don't want to have to resort to sabotaging my neighbours' nest boxes!
Factors I can think of (please add any you can think of):
1. Internal size
My boxes all follow the RSPB plans, and are 12cm x 12cm inside. Is that possibly a little large? I know the sideview box is popular and that has a base of 8 x 11cm, albeit with a slope to one side that would effectively enlarge the nest area.
2. Wood thickness
Mine are 12mm ply - this is actually thinner than the 15mm minimum recommended by the RSPB, but it worked OK last year so I stuck with it (I had a lot of spare birch ply to use up). Thicker obviously helps with insulation, but also gives a longer/more protected entrance hole that can be more like a tunnel. I've even seen some boxes online with doubled wood at the entrance hole giving a real "tunnel" effect, and some of the concrete ones look similar. I imagine this gives extra security from predators and perhaps they like it?
3. Hole size
I think we have covered this pretty well in this forum and the old one. Mine are 28 - 32mm, last year was 32mm and didn't seem to bother them.
4. Lights
Possible it puts them off a bit if they are directly comparing to a box without them? This is my first year with lights (all boxes).
5. Direction
There seems to be a consensus on this with north/east or combination thereof?
6. Height from ground
Again a consensus on 2m or so? One of mine is a little higher. All got more or less equal visits but no takers.
7. Location
Near bushes, trees etc or not? Busy with people (near house) etc. Mine are varied in that way and didn't seem to make much difference to number of visits.
I would be particularly interested to hear from those who have multiple boxes with different characteristics, and which of them, if any, is consistently chosen over the other. Perhaps we can really narrow down some of the most important features and all increase our chances of getting a nest next year? Or perhaps it really is all just luck of the draw! But there must be something that drives them to choose one or the other.
Factors I can think of (please add any you can think of):
1. Internal size
My boxes all follow the RSPB plans, and are 12cm x 12cm inside. Is that possibly a little large? I know the sideview box is popular and that has a base of 8 x 11cm, albeit with a slope to one side that would effectively enlarge the nest area.
2. Wood thickness
Mine are 12mm ply - this is actually thinner than the 15mm minimum recommended by the RSPB, but it worked OK last year so I stuck with it (I had a lot of spare birch ply to use up). Thicker obviously helps with insulation, but also gives a longer/more protected entrance hole that can be more like a tunnel. I've even seen some boxes online with doubled wood at the entrance hole giving a real "tunnel" effect, and some of the concrete ones look similar. I imagine this gives extra security from predators and perhaps they like it?
3. Hole size
I think we have covered this pretty well in this forum and the old one. Mine are 28 - 32mm, last year was 32mm and didn't seem to bother them.
4. Lights
Possible it puts them off a bit if they are directly comparing to a box without them? This is my first year with lights (all boxes).
5. Direction
There seems to be a consensus on this with north/east or combination thereof?
6. Height from ground
Again a consensus on 2m or so? One of mine is a little higher. All got more or less equal visits but no takers.
7. Location
Near bushes, trees etc or not? Busy with people (near house) etc. Mine are varied in that way and didn't seem to make much difference to number of visits.
I would be particularly interested to hear from those who have multiple boxes with different characteristics, and which of them, if any, is consistently chosen over the other. Perhaps we can really narrow down some of the most important features and all increase our chances of getting a nest next year? Or perhaps it really is all just luck of the draw! But there must be something that drives them to choose one or the other.