Newbridge Tidy Towns have provided over 40 bird-nesting boxes along the Liffey Linear Park in Newbridge. The boxes were constructed and supplied by Seamus Duggan who operates a joinery locally.

Why not join us in erecting bird-nesting boxes or bird feeding tables in your back garden, or indeed in your residential area.

Here’s some general information on bird-nesting boxes.

Bird Nesting Boxes
Many people would like to encourage birds to nest in their gardens, and where you have the space the easiest way to achieve this is by planting native trees, climbers, ivy’s and even hedges, as this will provide nesting opportunities to many birds in a natural environment. Choose plants which will provide natural foods (berries, seeds, crab apples, haws, holly berries) and plenty of cover for roosting and nesting.

Many people do not have extensive garden space so in this case consider erecting bird tables or bird nesting boxes as these will also attract birds to the garden.

Having Birds in your garden has many advantages, not only do they provide a musical backdrop, they will feed on insects, and birds such as the Thrush will dine out on the garden snails eliminating the need for toxic chemicals in the garden.

Feeding birds during the summer season is generally not necessary, although it won’t do any harm to supplement their diet, it is far more important to feed birds during the winter months when nature’s food can be in short supply. Mimic the type of food the bird will thrive on during the summer, such as sunflower seeds, raisins, currants, melon seeds, moist bread, and of course water for drinking and bathing in.

Nestboxes
If you are considering erecting Nestboxes in your garden or on the green area of your residential estate, remember they need to be erected well before the nesting season; some birds begin their search for prospective nest sites as early as February each year.

Birds tend to check out the “Des Res” and become accustomed to them before they decide to occupy, so some patience may be required as the birds may not occupy the new nestbox immediately.

Nestboxes should be fixed to a wall or a tree, ideally 1.5 to 5 metres from the ground, and should face between north and south-east. Ideally Nestboxes with wide openings are best located in areas well shaded / camouflaged by foliage. Generally speaking erect the boxes facing north through east to southeast, do not erect the birdbox facing the south, as this could result in the nestbox over heating in the summer months.

Don’t place boxes too close to each other, some birds are territorial, indeed one or two bird boxes is sufficient for most average sized gardens, remember a garden can only support a limited number of bird clutches, as many young garden birds are fed on insects.

Robins tend to thrive in open fronted boxes which can be mounted between one and two feet from the ground. Prevent predators such as crows, squirrels, cats from damaging the nest by placing a screen of chicken wire in a ball over the front of the box.

Camouflage the nestbox with vegetation or ivy, the robin will find its way into the nest despite the chicken wire and screening. The Song thrush and Wagtail also thrive in open fronted boxes, as will the Wren once the nest is well camouflaged.

Tit boxes tend to be rectangular, with a small hole in the front to allow entry to hole-nesting species. While it is important that the bird boxes are located in areas where they are not prone to attack by predators remember that as many hole-nesting species fly directly to the nest there needs be a clear flight line to the box un-obscured by vegetation or other obstruction. Do not position peg under the entrance hole to the nest, act as a perch, as it is unnecessary and provides a foothold for predators.

In addition the hole in the box will determine its suitability for various breeds of tits, and as a guide hole sizes are as follows:

Blue Tits 25mm holes,
Great Tits, House Sparrow & Tree Sparrow 32mm holes,
Starlings 45mm holes.

Remember to clean the nestbox after the nesting season each year, (October / November) removing nesting materials any unhatched eggs (wear protective gloves when cleaning the nestbox). Consider cleaning the interior of the box with boiling water if practical as this will kill ant parasites remaining in the nestbox. Birds sometimes use the nestbox for roosting or shelter outside the breeding season, so a clean nestbox is of benefit to the birds in your garden.

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