Visit our site
Please
Recycle
Bird Nesting Box
Assembly Instructions
PERDIX Wildlife Supplies. Unit 1 Hatton Rock Business Park,
Hatton Rock, Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 0BX. UK
Tel: +44 (0)1789 336123 www.perdixwildlifesupplies.com
5
6
With the roof centred and flush to the mount
post, align the screws with the centre of the
sides and attach the roof with four 40mm
screws.
Place the door so it sits flush with the sides.
Fix using the last four 40mm screws making
sure they align with the pilot holes in the door.
DO NOT USE GLUE ON THE DOOR!
MAINTENANCE
To open the door for cleaning simply remove
the lower screws and loosen the upper
screws. The door can now be opened from the
base.
FINISHING
We recommend using a non-toxic
weatherproof finish which should only be
applied to the exterior of the nesting box.
The interior should always remain natural.
Birdnestboxbestpractiseinstallationandmaintenancetips
DrFrancisBuner,theGame&WildlifeConservationTrust
A.Installation
Where?
1.Thebestplacetoinstalabirdnestboxdependsonthespeciestheboxisintendedfor.Therefore,
thinkabouttherighthabitatfirst,suchaswoodland,farmland,andurbanareas.
2.Seekpermissionfromthelandownerbeforeinstallingyourbox.
3.Avoidhangingaboxwiththeopeningfacingnorth(whichiscoldandshady),orthemostlikely
directionoftypicalrainyweather(thisenhancesthelifetimeofyourbox).
How?
4.Songbirdboxesshouldbehungbetween2-4mhigh.Considervandalismandeasyaccessor
subsequentcontrolandmaintenancewhenchoosingthehight.
5.Fornon-passerinebirds,pleasefollowspecies-specificrecommendations.
6.Alwaysusenon-rustingscrewswhenfixingtheboxonatree(thisisjustbeingkindtothetree)and
avoidnails(screwsfixtheboxbetterandallowfortheboxtobeeasilymovedifnecessary).
7.Whenfixingontoawallorsimilar(forhousesparrowboxesforexample),drillahole,useawallplug
andmatchingscrew.
When?
8.Mostresidenthole-breedingsongbirds(suchashouseandtreesparrowsandtits)startlookingor
suitablenestsitesasearlyasMarch,therefore,tryandinstallyourboxbeforetheendofFebruary.
9.MigrantsongbirdstypicallyarrivesometimebetweenAprilandearlyMay,andhence,boxesthat
targetspecieslikepiedflycatcherorredstartcanalsobehungaslateasearlyAprilforachancetobe
occupiedalreadyinthefirstyear.
B.Boxcontrol
1.Ideally,boxesshouldbeleftaloneduringthebreedingseasontominimisedisturbanceofthenest,
especiallyofincubatingadults.Whenoneggs,birdsareparticularlysusceptibletodisturbance.
2.Ifringingtakesplace,tryandtimeyourcontrolwiththeperiodwheneggsaremostlikelyhatched.
Formostspeciesthisisbetweenmid-Mayuntilmid-June.However,mostbirdswillattemptasecond
broodifthefirstonefails.
3.Beforeopeningthebox,taptheboxasifyouknockedonsomebodyʼsdoor.Thisgivestheadultin
theboxawarning.Thismayormaynotreducestresstothebird,butevenifitdoesnʼt,itseemsakind
thingtodo.
4.Spendaslittletimedisturbingtheboxasnecessarytoallowtheparentbirdtoreturnasquicklyas
possible.Asaruleofthumb,trytokeepyourpresenceunder10minutes(whenringinglargebroods
oftits,thismaytakemoretime).
5.Whenopeningthebox,ideallyholdanetinfrontoftheentranceholetoallownearly-fledgedyoung
thattrytoescapetobecaught.Youngthatleavetheboxprematurelyhavereducedsurvival.
6.Whenringinglargebroods,Irecommendtakingoutonlyhalfoftheyoungforringingand,once
finished,swapwiththeunringedhalf.Ringawayfromtheboxtoallowparentbirdstocontinue
feeding.
C.Boxmaintenance
7. Boxeswithsongbirdnestsshouldbecleanedonceayear,exceptforsparrownests,whichshould
onlybecleanedevery2-3years.
8.CleaningshouldtakeplaceupuntiltheendofFebruary.
9.Whencleaningthebox,removethewholenest.Thendisinfecttheboxbyburningacrumpled
double-sheetofnewspaperinthebox,leavingthefrontdoorslightlyopentocreateadraft.
10.Usetheoccasiontorepairtheboxandrepaintapproximatelyevery10years,butonlyeveronthe
outside.
