To celebrate spring and bird nesting season, we hope you'll be able to join
us in our annual Bird Nest Box Festival by putting up a nest box or two.

Although some birds do not use bird houses or nest boxes, many others
will eagerly take advantage of the opportunity to nest in a safe, protected box.

We have chosen April 1 to be the starting date of the festival. This will allow
time to make a nest box or purchase a ready-made one before the prime nesting time arrives.

Chickadees, wrens and nuthatches will all use nest boxes.

Many birds are attracted to rough tree bark which resembles their natural habitat, so if you have a source of bark in your area you could add a piece or two to the nest box.

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Brightly coloured store-bought nest boxes may look pretty but can attract unwanted predators. We prefer rustic bird houses that blend in to the surrounding area. In the wild, nests are usually very well hidden. These types of nest boxes can be easily made with some basic tools and materials and a few carpentry skills.
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It's always a great idea to provide some handy nesting materials for nesting birds. It's easy to adapt a suet cake cage and stuff it with fluff and hair. Click on these two images for more information and details.
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Hang the cages near the nest boxes and the birds will soon find this great supply of nest materials.
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The next time that you are down by a wetland or marsh with rushes that the Red-winged Blackbird enjoys so much, bring a few seed heads home with you. Many birds love to pick the fluffy seeds for their nests.

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