AUTUMNGUIDE

What to look for
in a new nestbox
Petr Goskov/Alamy
If you are buying a new nestbox, look
for the following features:
● Thick, good-quality wood (not metal
or plastic, which will overheat)
● No additional features such as
perches or feeder trays
● Waterproof and weatherproof
● An opening to clean out the box at
the end of the season (and to
monitor the nest if you wish)
● An entrance hole that is high above
the base of the box, to avoid
predators such as cats reaching
into the nest.
Radim Beznoska/Alamy
Where to site a new box?
Your top priority should be a location
where the nest will be protected from bad
weather and predators. The entrance to the
box should be sheltered from the prevailing
wind, rain and strong sunlight. If the box is
out in the open, face the hole in a northerly
or easterly direction. If you fix the box to a
tree, try to angle the entrance hole slightly
downward. To keep the box out of reach of
predators, put it as high off the ground as
you can (though different birds have
different preferences). Placing a box near
prickly plants such as Holly or pyracantha
can deter predators like cats.
The BTO’s new book Nestboxes: Your
Complete Guide contains step-by-step
instructions for building your own
nestboxes, information about birds that
Humane way to keep rodents off your bird food
If you feed your garden birds, storing the food away from the
depredations of mice and other rodents can be a problem.
PESTController is a humane and discrete way to do so, using
bursts of Ultrasound to drive them away.
They're inaudible to humans and harmless to all species, and
can protect an area of up to 100 sq.m.
For further details, go to conceptresearch.co.uk
regularly use boxes as well as advice on
positioning boxes. See the BTO
membership offer to get a free copy.
Once your nestboxes are ready for
spring, all you have to do is wait! However,
if you want to keep busy until the nesting
season, there is, of course, plenty to do in
the garden. The BTO’s Garden BirdWatch
survey runs all-year round, and, by
sending in weekly lists of the birds, you
see you can help us monitor how birds are
using gardens throughout the year.
Head to bto.org/gbw for more information
on how to get involved.
This winter, the BTO is also running
a Tawny Owl Calling Survey, and is
asking people listen out in their gardens for
20 minutes every week to monitor patterns
of calling behaviour of this under-studied
owl. To find out more and take part, go to
bto.org/owl
When spring arrives, don’t forget to
monitor any birds nesting in your nest
boxes for the BTO’s Nest Box Challenge!
Visit bto.org/nbc to take part.
BW
BTO membership offer
Take advantage of the BTO’s special
joining offer of BTO membership
including Garden BirdWatch for just
£48 and get two free books:
Nestboxes: Your Complete Guide and
Garden Birds and Other Wildlife.
You will also receive quarterly
magazines throughout the year.
Go to bto.org/winterbw18 to join online
or alternatively contact its supporter
team on: 01842 750050.
8 Get To Know Garden Birds 2018