natural nest boxes

[Armin]

Maggi, Mark, Anthony, David,

this lesson teached me not to trust anymore "online dictionaries" . I'll use the latin names from next time. They're more distinctive.

Please read: "Regular breeders are Passer domesticus, Passer montanus, Sturnus vulgaris, Parus major, Parus caeruleus and Phoenicurus ochruros."

I'm glad my wrong translation has caused so much smile in your faces, comments and interest.

For all those of you who want to improve their German bird name knowledge:
Passer domesticus = Haussperling
Passer montanus = Feldsperling
Sturnus vulgaris = Star
Parus major = Kohlmeise
Parus caeruleus = Blaumeise
Phoenicurus ochruros = Hausrotschwänzchen
Phoenicurus phoenicurus = Gartenrotschwanz
Alcedo atthis = Eisvogel (David )
Apus apus = Mauersegler (Mark  )

At last, thanks for the detailed distribution area of Redstarts in the UK.
Redstarts in Germany are rare due to distroyed enviroment (agriculture) and missing breeding possibilities. Only on country side with many cattles & hourses you have some chance to see one. Black Redstarts are much more often to see and willingly utilize half-open nest boxes when offered.
To hang up nest boxes is an good investment not only in bird protection. By eating aphids and other destructive insects they help us in our garden works throughout the year. Good topic Mark!

[mark smyth]

those going to the Czech conference will hopefully see Redstarts but I cant remmeber if they are black or red. I did when I was there. One pair was using a hole but not in a building or tree well kind of tree. One of these naturally very thick conifers looking like clipped Leylandii

[Anthony Darby]

My parents had a redstart nest in a gutter in their (former) house in Blairdrummond (7 miles from here) a few years ago, but a downpour washed it away.

[mark smyth]

does anyone know of bumble bees using a nest box to breed in? No interest in mine so far even though I followed an online suggestion to get some soiled mouse bedding from a pet shop. And also following an online suggestion today I caught a queen been and have now imprisioned her in the box. Two days they say.

[Susan Band]

I know they like living in mouse holes in the ground
Also the fox sometimes digs them up for the honey and/or young grubs

[Maggi Young]

We have had bumble bees colonise a nest box in the past... but they did it of their own accord. Most of ours live in the hedge roots where they can get easy access in the leaf litter to a cosy home for the baby bumblers! The cavitities in drystone walls are popular, too.
We've got too many mice in our mouseholes to leave room for bumble bees!

[Lesley Cox]

Sometimes bumble bees make their homes in a clay bank here. Some years ago, they did this among plants which I was establishing on the bank, helichrysums and other dry-loving plants. I didn't know the bees were there and watered the plants while they were new. A couple of weeks later when weeding among them, I dug into the nest and found they had all drowned. I still feel terrible about it.

[mark smyth]

I can now confirm that sticking a bee in prison doesnt work. I let my Queen out today and without orientating herself flew out to feed in the garden and then flew off over the house. What I will now do is get some conduit and bury in in the ground and have the other end in the box. That should fool 'em

[Armin]

Mark, I couldn't find a specific next box for bumble bees but a nice insect house for wild bees.
Maybe an idea for your garden (if you haven't yet any)? Wild bees are good polinators...

For all those who are a bit skilled... some plans for self-made next boxes. Good luck!

http://http://www.bsh-umweltladen.de/bsh/nistk.htm  (scroll down to bottom of this page, nest box for Redstart and others)

Notes: all dimensions in cm except nest box for bats which is in mm.
Bat box: The surface of the inner board has to be rough so that bats can hang on.

[mark smyth]

A warning about nest boxes at this time of year. Keep a safe distance away. Not for the birds but the fleas that sit at the entrance waiting for something warm to come close. I just had dozens of them jump on to me. Lucklily my sweat shirt is pale grey!