Nesting Boxes

When looking for a nesting box for Australian Native Birds, you first need to determine which sort of bird you wish to attract to the garden. This will determine the size and configuration of the nesting box.

One of the best resources for this is the Birds In Backyards Scheme. They not only provide plans for nesting boxes, but also provide lots of valuable information on bird identification, and creating habitat for birds.

Do Birds need nesting boxes ?

It seems a little odd to be buying or building nesting boxes, for native birds, possums or owls, after all they should be able to cope without them right?

Well sort of right, as we change the landscape, remove old dead trees and scrub we also remove natural nesting places for a range of birds and other animals. We plant lots of flowers and shrubs and these provide nectar and all settlements seem to provide lots of mice etc for owls to feed on, but we just don’t make trees with hollows in them, so nesting boxes can be a good idea.

Why nesting boxes?

And why are we talking about nesting boxes on a gardening web site ? Well birds are a gardeners best friend, they add interest and joy to the garden and the birds eat insects as well. Not to sure that possums need much encouragement, but thats up to you, maybe a nesting box will entice them away from your roof….

Materials

Make sure you use non treated timber in any nesting box, you might go for waterproof marine ply, but really any hardwood building material is fine, old floor boards are usually made of mountain ash anyway.

Do not paint the inside of a nesting box, the paint is toxic to birds. Some holes in the floor to allow water to get away, make sure the nesting box is well away from dogs and cats.

Different size boxes for different birds, Owls will like a bigger sized box that smaller birds. Add some straw and keep away.

Resources

• Bird attracting plants
• Bird Baths
• Bird Feeders

Nesting Boxes are available for sale online from the following suppliers.