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The way we identify and group birds is by categorizing them to be in one of two groups. One is passerines- the songbirds and perching birds that have three toes forwards and one toe back like sparrows, tits and starlings. The other is non-passerines, which have two toes forwards and two toes back like woodpeckers, parakeets and falcons. We have both in our local area, and their size, habitat and ecological needs vary hugely. At this time of year in particular, birds are settling down to lay their eggs and bring their young into the world. But is it just nests that birds need to lay eggs, or can we give them a place to live and nest?
Well the short answer is no! Many birds nest in our rooves as well as sometimes in window boxes, and we can also provide bird boxes to garden birds for them to nest safely there. Each species of bird has a different preference for their nesting site and have very different methods of building their own. Nests can be big, small, stable, unstable and made of a variety of materials. Doves like using twigs and sticks whereas blackbirds use a mixture of feathers, grass and mud to make their nests. Both of these nests are relatively unstable and will likely disintegrate within a few months.
In contrast, swallows use wet mud to construct complex nests with walls which are much more durable and secure. Other birds nest in cavities often in trees, such as tits, owls and woodpeckers. These cavities provide a place to nest and a place to keep dry and warm in colder weather- the most secure and long-lasting of them all.
These cavity nesting birds are the group most likely to be enticed by a bird box, which has a cavity opening, just like they are used to. However, placing a bird box in your garden has to be well-thought out in order for it to ever be used successfully. You must observe the species already present in your garden and tailor your bird box to their needs.
The RSPB has advised opening sizes as follows for each bird species:
25 mm for blue, coal and marsh tits
28 mm for great tits, tree sparrows and pied flycatchers
32 mm for house sparrows and nuthatches
45 mm for starlings.
It is never guaranteed that your bird box will be used, but when they are, it can be really exciting. If you are a keen birder, installing a small video-taking device into your box can produce incredible results when they are being used!
There are a small group of species that may prefer to nest in your roof. House sparrows, swifts and starlings are probably the most common culprits in the area, and I have house sparrows in my roof at the minute! Often, you will not even notice these birds are nesting in your roof, and they will cause very little damage to your property. The real issue with this arises when building works are planned. All wild birds are protected by law, so it is important to take responsible and lawful action when making changes to your property.
It is fantastic that we have such an abundant and diverse range of birds in the local area. Any steps we can take to help them build their own nests, provide them with a bird box, or allow them to nest in our rooves, are really helpful to ensure they keep thriving.
If you’d like to find out some more about how you can use bird boxes in your gardens, please see the RSPB website, where some of the information in this nature note was extracted from: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/nestboxes/nestboxes-for-small-birds/making-and-placing-a-bird-box/.