Nest boxes
Now that you have helped the birds in your garden to successfully get through the winter by regularly topping up your bird feeders, it is time to think about erecting nesting boxes.
Garden birds will soon be seeking out suitable nesting sites. There is no better way to support your local wildlife at this time of year than by putting up a bird box.
Take a little care when choosing a site for your bird box, they should ideally be erected between two and four metres from the ground, on a wall or a tree.
Unless sheltered by buildings or trees, nest boxes should be located facing between the north and the east to avoid driving rain and harsh all day summer sunshine.
Place them well out of the reach of pets.
We have had next boxes in our garden for years and are always rewarded with the spectacle of parental birds flying to and from the nest boxes, carrying all manner of foodstuffs to their fast growing nestlings! It's a fantastic sound to hear baby blue tits all crying out in unison when a parent arrives with a morsel.
If you are lucky - as we were with the robin in the picture - your garden birds feel comfortable enough to feed their fledglings in your garden. You will be able to observe the fast feathering-up chicks being fed by their parents in the safety of your garden.
Check out the RSPB website for great tips on the types of nest boxes and how best to locate them for different bird species in your garden.
Don't worry if an old next box becomes inhabited by a small colony of bumbles bees, these harmless creatures will work wonders in your garden, pollinating your fruit and veggie plants!
