4 Great Tips for Nesting Aids

Daria

Her long-time passion for art and photography and her international expertise are what set Daria apart. When she is not working on new marketing projects, she enjoys oil and watercolour painting, reading up on Bauhaus design, cooking vegetarian dishes from around the world or helping wild animals in need. After her Master's degree, Daria discovered digital marketing for herself and has great fun managing the Relaxdays Pinterest channel. Daria is always looking for inspiration and is open to any adventure and experiments. Her camera is always by her side to capture the most beautiful moments.

Spring is finally here. The first rays of sunlight gently awaken the sleepy winter landscapes. Flowers adorn the meadows in all their colours and birds delight us with their chirping. The breeding season for most songbirds begins as early as the beginning of March. Unfortunately, however, there is a lack of natural nesting opportunities for many birds these days. Especially in large cities, many birds depend on our help. Fortunately, there are more and more people who care about the diverse needs of their animal companions and provide them with alternative nesting possibilities. There are some things you too can do to support your local birds at this time of year.

If you want to help the birds find a home, you can hang a nesting box in your garden or on your balcony. By choosing a nesting box in your favourite look, you can not only simply decorate your garden or balcony, but also allow the birds to find a safe place for the breeding season and to be able to raise their offspring in a manner appropriate to their species and protect them from other animals. Today we would like to give you 4 tips on how to choose the right nest box and how best to install it. Who knows, maybe you too are a slumbering amateur ornithologist?

Tip 1: When choosing a good and safe nest box, it is very important to use only natural materials. With sturdy and thick-walled nest boxes made of wood such as spruce, fir, or beech, you are sure not to do anything wrong. However, you should avoid plastic and metal if possible.
Tip 2: It is essential to consider the correct dimensions of the nest box. Different bird species have different natural requirements. Starlings, for example, need much more space than blue tits and other smaller birds. The bottom of the box must have a surface area of at least 12 cm x 12 cm (approx. 4.5 x 4.5 inches). To prevent cats, martens, or other animals from reaching the brood, it is also important to ensure that the bottom edge of the opening is at least 17 cm (6.6 inches) above the bottom of the box.

Tip 3: The proper placement of the nest boxes also plays an important role in providing optimal protection for wild birds. We recommend that you hang your nest boxes at a height of two to three metres (6 to 10 feet). Make sure that the entrance hole does not face the wind or rain and that the box will not be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. It is best to choose an orientation to the east or southeast. For fastening to trees, ideally use stainless steel nails or fixed wire hangers. Tip 4: Last but not least, it is important to ensure thorough hygiene in the nesting boxes. You should clean the nest boxes after the breeding season, otherwise, fleas, mites, or louse flies could inhabit the old nests. Cleaning should be done either in late summer or from February onwards, so as not to disturb hibernating animals such as the dormouse. Note that bird fleas and the like can also jump over to humans. But please don't let that intimidate you. If you do not bring the nesting materials into your home and take appropriate hygiene measures such as wearing gloves, you need not worry! Remember that it is important to support the birds in their search for a suitable nesting site because natural alternatives are lacking. Relaxdays can help you with that. In our shop, you will find a huge selection of cute and suitable nesting boxes and birdhouses. You too can turn your garden into a bird-friendly place!