Nothing evokes a more pleasant feeling than the cheerful chirping of young birds in the garden or on the balcony. With a birdhouse on the wall or in a tree, you'll make birds happy and become happy yourself. With our tips for hanging a birdhouse or nesting pot, you create a safe place and contribute to a good start to a new life.
You can have the most beautiful bird nesting pot, but if the location isn't right, you won't see a bird fly into it. There are seven facts about hanging a nesting pot:
- Hang the nesting pot in a quiet and safe place in the garden, so birds dare to fly inside.
- Maintain a height of approximately 1.8 meters. This way, you can occasionally check if there's a nest. Do you have a cat? Then a height between 2.5 and 3.5 meters is better.
- Remove branches directly in front of the opening.
- Make sure the nesting pot is not in direct sunlight; it will get too hot inside. Hang the nesting pot in a place where the sun shines on it in the morning and it's in the shade in the afternoon.
- The opening of the nesting pot should preferably face east, sheltered from wind and rain.
- Make sure the opening of the nesting pot is not blocked by branches. A tree or a taller shrub nearby is often appreciated by birds: this way, they can first check if the surroundings are safe before flying into the pot again.
- Clean the nesting pot thoroughly in the autumn. Use gloves and boiling water.
When to hang the bird nesting pot?
It is best to hang a nesting pot in the autumn. This way, birds can get used to it and use the pot as a sleeping place and shelter when it gets really cold and wet. If they like their new hiding place, there's a good chance they'll return in the breeding season – early spring – to build a nest.
Combining multiple bird nesting pots
Do you have several bird species in your garden or want to hang different bird nesting pots? Then it's good to know that most birds, even if they are of the same species, prefer not to live next to each other. For birds of different species, such as a great tit and blue tit, the nesting pots can be hung 3 meters apart. Pots for birds that like to live in groups, such as sparrows, starlings, and swallows, can be hung next to each other. Choose a bird nesting pot based on the birds that already frequent your garden or those you'd like to welcome. Each bird has a certain preference for the height of the entrance hole. The diameter of the opening also varies. So, keep this in mind.
Tip: If you don't see any birds in the nesting pot for two consecutive breeding seasons, double-check the tips above or try a different location.
Source: VT Wonen
