Bird Houses & Nest Boxes

To attract birds to your bird house, start by placing bird feeders filled with good quality bird food in your garden. This will encourage birds to explore around your garden. You must also make sure your bird house is placed at a suitable height, and is suited to birds that visit your garden - different birds like different bird houses! Also make sure to clean out your bird houses between seasons so it is fresh and ready for a new set of birds to nest in. Finally, ensure your bird house is out of reach of predators such as cats and and squirrels as birds will not use a bird house if they think they will be vulnerable to predators.

The best place to hang aq bird house is 1-3m off the ground on a tree trunk. If there a no trees in your garden, you may place your bird house on the side of a shed or on a wall. Ensure your bird house is not too close to another bird house or any of your bird feeders.

Start by removing any old nesting wool and material from your bird house. This nesting material can be composted. Next, scrub your bird house with a weak solution of bleach and water. Rinse your bird house thoroughly with water to remove all traces of bleach and allow it to dry completely in direct sunlight. Ensure all screws are secure and there are no prominent splinter before placing your bird house back in your garden.

Bird houses and nest boxes are the same thing - the phrases are interchangeable.