Nest boxes

Homes, placement and the work between nesting seasons

After a gale, look from the ground first. An occupied box needs a different response from an empty one.

Spacing depends on the birds and the shape of the garden. A row of identical boxes is not always the best use of a fence.

A metal ring can protect an entrance rim, but it cannot make the entire box secure against every predator.

A finish is optional decoration or weather protection, not a reason to coat every surface of the chamber.

A slightly untidy garden supplies choices. Household fibres and pet-grooming waste are not needed to furnish a box.

Visits tell a partial story. Watching from a familiar distant position is enough to notice the season changing.

A winter visitor may be using shelter for the night, even when the box never held a summer nest.

A more attractive position can wait if the current box is being used. Plan the move around the birds, not a garden deadline.