Nature Watch, with Ron Freethy

I AM often asked when is the best time to set up a nest box. The answer is round about now.

This gives the birds such as blue tits and great tits time to select their nest site.

They may well use the box as a roost during the bad weather. Once they have confidence in the site, they will decide that here is the ideal breeding niche.

The next question is usually where to place the box.

To me there are three golden rules which have to be followed:

The nest box should not be painted or protected by creosote or wood preserver. These chemicals do not do the occupants of the box, especially the vulnerable young, any good at all.

Never place the box facing south. Some spring days can be so hot that the young and the incubating birds will overheat and may die. It has the same effect as leaving a dog in a car with the windows closed during the summer.

Make sure that the position of the box does not allow rain water to flood it. You should buy a box with a sloping roof and choose an area of the trunk which ensures that this slope is increased.

If you bear these facts in mind you should have many successful years enjoying your bird box.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.