Birds in Bad Weather

Save a Sparrow from the Cold!

One important task to complete in January was to clean out nest boxes or put up new ones.  Birds will already be looking for prospective nest sites and may use boxes to roost or shelter in severe weather.  The sparrows in our garden have been popping in and out of our sparrow terrace on a daily basis.

The weather we have had this last week is a sharp reminder that winter isn’t over yet!  A cosy nest box could be a lifesaver!

Never be tempted to open a nest box during the breeding season.  In the UK it should only be opened and cleaned out between August and January and only if you can be sure that it is no longer in use.

This is my sparrow terrace at the end of last season.  It has seen three consecutive broods of sparrows raised in one breeding season.  For each of the three years prior to this it had housed a family of blue tits.  Each year they  choose a different chamber.

As you can see, although I know that the sparrows hatched three consecutive broods, they only used two of the nesting chambers.  The third has an incomplete nest.  For some reason they didn’t like the right hand one.

I don’t know if it was the same pair each time.  What I do know is that the sparrows in my garden have been quite successful this year as they are still flocking to my feeders.

Clean out the box by removing the nest and any contents and disposing of it.  I put it in my compost bin.  Use boiling water to kill any fleas and parasites remaining in the nest box.  Don’t be tempted to use any disinfectants or insecticides.

Allow the box to dry out thoroughly before replacing the lid.

If you want to make it cosy for any winter visitors then you could add a small handful of clean hay or wood shavings to the dry box.  The RSPB does not advise using straw.

For more information on nest boxes and wildlife in general you can’t beat the RSPB

If you’re looking for a supplier who supports the The Wildlife Trusts try www.vinehousefarm.co.uk

It’s not too late to put up a new nest box.

So what are you waiting for?

If you can, please ‘Save a sparrow from the cold!’