Attracting birds into nesting boxes (Urban area)

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MarkM536

304 posts

Ultimate Geek

#290134 22-Oct-2021 19:29

I have placed a new birdhouse up a tree in the back garden. Sadly no birds have checked it out 🙁.

Sparrows are opting for a palm tree and other types of birds aren't in my yard.

Is there anything to try to entice birds to the nesting box?

It's about 7m off the ground, comparable to the palm tree.

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8877 posts

Uber Geek

#2799637 22-Oct-2021 20:00

Might be a bit late - birds already started nesting?

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MarkM536

304 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2799651 22-Oct-2021 20:43

RunningMan:

Might be a bit late - birds already started nesting?

I know, it is late for nesting right now.

Birdhouse has been up since the start of September before I started seeing birds looking for nesting materials. Something hasn't appealed to them about this site.

RunningMan

8877 posts

Uber Geek

#2799654 22-Oct-2021 20:51

Some info here about placement / location https://www.backyardbirds.co.nz/bird_feeding5.htm

neb

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#2799656 22-Oct-2021 20:55

MarkM536:
Is there anything to try to entice birds to the nesting box?

Put in about 3cm of topsoil, then sow some lettuce, cucumber, carrot, radish, or corn seeds. The box will be full of birds the minute you turn your back.

Eva888

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#2799717 22-Oct-2021 21:35

Nice tree but also easy for a cat to climb. Maybe the birds are smart and know this. We have put up nesting boxes to deter birds from nesting under the iron and in the gutter corners. Never had any luck and they still go to the exact same place to nest every year in the gutter. They also ignore the syrup bird feeder. Mind you it’s so windy up here they need strap on weights to assist in landing.

MarkM536

304 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2799730 23-Oct-2021 01:11

Eva888: Nice tree but also easy for a cat to climb. Maybe the birds are smart and know this.

Doesn't surprise me if the birds are that smart. I have seen the neighbours cats on the fence and lowest branches on the tree, but never up any further.

Sadly this is one of the only trees in my backyard that's suitable for a birdhouse. At that height it hardly moves in the wind.

I could have placed this on the palm tree, but I felt I couldn't get it high enough. Certainly that would have been a shorter cable run!

Eva888: We have put up nesting boxes to deter birds from nesting under the iron and in the gutter corners. Never had any luck and they still go to the exact same place to nest every year in the gutter. They also ignore the syrup bird feeder.

Doesn't fill me with confidence lol.

Every year it's always the same palm tree at the top, those that don't get pecking order sometimes make a nest on the side (then fall off).

This morning I went outside and found a large next on the ground. Two slightly developed eggs didn't survive.

If only the birds knew my birdhouse is secure in place!

RunningMan

8877 posts

Uber Geek

#2799744 23-Oct-2021 07:08

neb:
MarkM536:

Is there anything to try to entice birds to the nesting box?

Put in about 3cm of topsoil, then sow some lettuce, cucumber, carrot, radish, or corn seeds. The box will be full of birds the minute you turn your back.

Lawn seed, tomatoes, apples you are just about to pick... the list goes on!

hairy1

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#2799745 23-Oct-2021 07:44

My 10 year old has been pestering me to put ours up somewhere. What camera are you using?

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

tdgeek

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#2799750 23-Oct-2021 07:55

Id put some food outside it to attract birds. Maybe two or three on the tree below the birdhouse. Throw some bread on the ground nearby and tack a couple of slices to the tree. Once one finds out, they will call the others. I put a bird feeder on the fence, not used, until one bird found it then it was a sellout.

Oblivian

7275 posts

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#2799781 23-Oct-2021 09:50

If you have a local butcher, see how much they will do a fat / suet ball for you

Hang away from mice and watch them stock up towards winter

richms

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#2799817 23-Oct-2021 12:10

You have painted it. I was told that was a big no-no from both a toxicity thing, as well as it doesnt look like a natural hollow in a tree to them thing.

Richard rich.ms

MarkM536

304 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2799980 23-Oct-2021 15:44

richms:

You have painted it. I was told that was a big no-no from both a toxicity thing, as well as it doesnt look like a natural hollow in a tree to them thing.

Yeah, I realise about that.

Originally I bought this bird house to hide a licence plate camera in (aimed out the hole towards the road) but I found it made it look more like an ugly red light camera.

It was painted because this is a Warehouse birdhouse kit, the timber was not treated at all.

Covering it with bark is certainly an idea to make it look more 'natural'. I suppose it's worth a try.

MarkM536

304 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2799983 23-Oct-2021 15:49

tdgeek:

Id put some food outside it to attract birds. Maybe two or three on the tree below the birdhouse. Throw some bread on the ground nearby and tack a couple of slices to the tree. Once one finds out, they will call the others. I put a bird feeder on the fence, not used, until one bird found it then it was a sellout.

I read online that food sources next to a nest might not be good. Too many other birds coming near the nest site.

Food is available everywhere for the birds in my backyard. I will try a few bits of bread up there tomorrow. 🙂

What I haven't shown is some nesting material I stuck in the hole. A sparrows nest fell out of the palm tree, I put the nest material in the hole and wedged between the ratchet strap (minus the plastic they put in their nest, eek).

MarkM536

304 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2799990 23-Oct-2021 16:06

hairy1:

What camera are you using?

A cheap AliExpress IP camera connected to my Dahua NVR via POE.

It's alright, although the camera is a cheap Chinese device without much security..... I use a virtual machine with it's configuration software because I do not trust the ActiveX plugin.

This is the exact one, however I accidently bought this instead of the POE version. Behind the birdhouse is a small box with a POE splitter.

There is a review from me in there, that comment got the seller to start messaging me and helping me get it right. Customer service of this AliExpress store was good. I was messaging them at midnight NZ time and they answered right away (literally within 30 seconds).

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001658598119.html

Do be aware that the camera above is not water resistant. I'm yet to see if my one will survive inside the birdhouse...

Interface/web GUI looks like this camera:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5m_BWvMusM

tdgeek

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#2800130 23-Oct-2021 18:18

MarkM536:

I read online that food sources next to a nest might not be good. Too many other birds coming near the nest site.

Food is available everywhere for the birds in my backyard. I will try a few bits of bread up there tomorrow. 🙂

What I haven't shown is some nesting material I stuck in the hole. A sparrows nest fell out of the palm tree, I put the nest material in the hole and wedged between the ratchet strap (minus the plastic they put in their nest, eek).

Nesting, my slight bad. I dont think nesting will work as its not the norm. But encouraging birds via feeding "could" make it happen in the future if that artificial nest becomes part of the landscape for birds maybe.

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