 For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the United Kingdom |
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For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the United Kingdom |
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Nestbox Cleanup
October is a good time of the year to clean out your nest box. Even the late broods will have left the box now, and it’s too early for birds to start using the box as a winter roosting site, or for butterflies to start hibernating. Before you take it down, watch the box for a few minutes to see if any insects are flying in or out. No point in risking a sting! If any wasps or bees have taken up residence, leave the box cleaning until November. The only other creatures you might encounter are ladybirds, spiders or roosting bats. If you’re lucky enough to find any bats, please don’t disturb them. Just contact your local bat group. They’ll be interested to hear about the roost site, and will be happy to advise you on the best course of action. It’s possible you may find some unhatched eggs. By law (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) you’re only allowed to remove the eggs between October and January. Pretty as they are, don’t be tempted to keep them - it's against the law. Just remove them, along with any old nesting material, and add them to your compost heap. Clean out the box with boiling hot water. Don’t bother with detergents or insecticides - boiling water will do a great job of killing any parasites in the box. Just be careful not to scald yourself. It's possible the box may need some repair work. Sometimes the entrance holes get enlarged by squirrels or woodpeckers. Placing a metal plate around the entrance hole should stop this and prevent predators getting to next years chicks. Also check that the lid is waterproof. It might need some plastic sheeting or roofing felt added to keep out heavy rain. Also ensure the lid can't be removed by a cat or squirrel. Make sure the drainage holes in the floor are clear to keep the box dry and aerated. If there aren't any holes now is a good time to drill a few. When hanging the box up again, make sure it's not positioned in direct sunlight, where the occupants will cook. Also ensure it's not too close to feeders. All the activity around the feeders will deter birds from nesting in the box next spring.
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