Bird Nest Box - A Slice of Nature in your Backyard or Balcony
All of us love nature; some of us live close to, a few amongst it and the rest of us hit the road on weekends to get away from concrete jungles to spend time exploring it
When surrounded by nature, knowingly or unknowingly we start observing the activities happening around us. It could be the activity of birds, insects, reptiles or some animals
In the process of doing so, we stop thinking about everything else and relax our overworked minds, quietly entering in to a meditated state. This is the best thing that happens to us when surrounded by nature
And thinking is not bad for health as long as the thoughts involved don't affect the overall rythm of the body
Get Closer to Nature from your Balcony
Given our lifestyle choices, all of us might not be able to live close to nature but we can always get closer to it from our balconies and backyards
Maintain green spaces around your balcony or backyard and install a bird nest box
Identify the birds in your locality before you begin the installation of a nest box. Nest box size varies depending on the bird and not all birds would need a box
Birds like Sparrow, Robin, Owl, Parakeet do make use of nest boxes for breeding
You can build the bird nest box yourself by following the best practices or you can buy one from a reputed dealer who follows best practices
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Advantages of Installing a Nest Box
- You would contribute to the conservation of birds in your locality
- You would get to know about different birds in your locality
- You can teach your kids how to build and install, it would be fun
- You can observe their activity and lifestyle, it is never boring and in fact it is exemplary
Some Dos and Don'ts
- Do provide water
- Do install the nest box firmly
- Do drill holes on the side walls for ventilation
- Don't tease or mock the birds
- Don't feed the birds any food
- Don't try to reach/access the nest box once installed
- Don't attempt to touch the eggs or the hatchlings
- Don't place anything inside the nest box
- Don't install any nets in your balcony that will deter the birds from entering
Few Questions You Might Have
It should be at least 3 metres (10 feet) from ground
Installing a nest box doesn't guarantee that birds will immediately start using it. Birds have to first identify the nest box; installing it in open area frequently visited by the birds will help them find the nest box. It might take a month or sometimes a few months, be patient
Feeling threatened, the birds would abandon the nest
They can find food on their own. The purpose of the nest box is to provide them shelter during the breeding season
Usually birds use the nest box only during breeding season and the rest of the days it is empty, but they do visit it frequently to claim their ownership
If they find it suitable they definitely occupy the nest box, but sometimes if they can't see the hole in the nest box they will not occupy, make sure the nest hole is of appropriate size. It is a good practice always to use light colored material to build the box, doing so would make the hole clearly stand out. You may also place a small twig of grass on the rim of the nest hole to help them find it
It depends on the bird and its breeding cycle
It is not recommended to move the nest box once installed as it would cause inconvenience to the birds. If you are relocating to a different house or place, it would be good if you inform the future occupants about the nest box, especially if the birds are incubating the eggs or if there are chicks not yet ready to fledge
Refrain from doing so until the birds acclimate and become comfortable. Once they settle down, you may take pictures but do it inconspicuously, may be from behind a curtain or some sort of camouflage