Bird Nesting Season Preparation / Homegrown Garden

Рет қаралды 58,623

Күн бұрын

The birds are singing once more as mating season will soon be here. It's time to get bird boxes put up and cleaned out to encourage bird residents in your garden this spring. It was National Nest Box Week just recently, so there's no better time to get your garden ready for the arrival of little chicks! In this video I cover how to clean out an existing bird box and offer advice on which bird box to buy and how to site it in your garden.
EDIT: I just learnt that the RSPB recommend that you do not clean your bird box past the end of January (I thought it was Feb!). I know that my own box shouldn’t be used until April but please be aware that nests could possibly be built and in use already! 💛🐥
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Пікірлер: 204

@carmenbailey1560 3 жыл бұрын

There’s nothing I love more then hearing the birds singing in early morning. Favourite bird so many really, but Robins are definitely at the top of my chart. Love springtime when everything wakes up. Thanks for sharing your birdhouses. 👍❤️😊

@eastcoastandy2905 3 жыл бұрын

Wren, robin and dunnock living/nesting in my garden. Blackbirds are now singing at 05:30, a pure joy to hear that too.

@emilywathen4184 3 жыл бұрын

I love robins and hearing their song early in the morning in springtime. Also love chickadees because they are so cute

@iartistdotme 3 жыл бұрын

Mockingburds are my favorite - they sing (copying all the others) and seem so joyful. To me they represent happiness and joy. It is our Florida state bird and well deserved. No as colorful outside but the music is outstanding.

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Ahh interesting I didn’t know that!

@annawojtun282 3 жыл бұрын

I was just thinking of whether to buy or make some bir boxes myself. We still have quite a lot of snow here in Poland, but with the warmer sunny days the birds really make it feel like spring with their singing!

@Greyghost80 Жыл бұрын

Last year I had the Eastern Blue Bird nest in the box 3 times and a Chickadee nest once in the other box. The Carolina Wren is such a busybody lol, they have built a nest every year in my garage.

@jasonmorrow9616 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! My wife especially loves birds. We could watch them all day. I'm in the process of putting up as many nesting boxes in the garden as I can care for. I especially like robins and goldfinch. We're in Canada.

@itsteganyay 3 жыл бұрын

We used to have a nest of western pewees near our backdoor. They're a variety of flycatcher, and it was always fun to see the parents swooping around the yard catching bugs to feed their young, and then watching the babies fledge. When I moved to the east coast, we started seeing great crested flycatcher pairs that would come out in the evenings to catch mosquitos. I imagine they had a nest nearby, but I never found it. Both species are very good garden entertainment and excellent pest control :)

@tbuttercup2162 3 жыл бұрын

I just started feeding the birds in my yard and hung a couple of bird boxes, but will be ordering the metal plate and learned a lot from your video. Thank you. 👩🏻‍🌾

@achardjc 2 жыл бұрын

I believe the bottom of your bird box is wet because the rain water runs down the side and into the seam where the bottom is attached. This can be prevented by always recessing the bottom of the bird box inside the four walls and raising it up a little from the bottom edge. This way rain water runs down the four walls and falls off without going into the seam.

@ThatsWhatWeCallTheGoodLife 3 жыл бұрын

We love the birds singing in our garden!

@MartinSmith-pv3zf 5 ай бұрын

What an education, learned so much there,get to work right away with a new box really inspired me, thank's so much

@philm6629 3 жыл бұрын

So right about new bird boxes; there was no interest when I put it up last spring, but this year I've already seen a blue tit going in and out. I have a friendly robin who demands food regularly - must put up a box for him!

@ChesapeakeHomestead 3 жыл бұрын

This winter was the first time I really experienced that joy and peace that watching birds brings. Thank you so much...I really want to make or buy a couple bird boxes now!!

@Meta-Drew 3 жыл бұрын

There is a woodworker near my job that sells birdhouses from his front yard. I have gotten a few for my mother but I think I'll be getting a couple for myself this week. Thanks for the video.

@jamiecattell488 3 жыл бұрын

I have two bluetits that come every year, nice sound especially when you can hear the babies inside. My favourite bird has got to be the blackbird, especially when they sing

@druszaj 3 жыл бұрын

I like chickadees because they are one of the few birds here in the winter, very friendly, will land on your hand.

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

I had to look them up, so many of you love them! I can see why. They’re very cute. Similar to our great tit/black cap 😄

@defaultuser1447 3 жыл бұрын

@@homegrowngarden They are in the same genus, Poecile.

@davidtansley1526 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Katrina, another great video. I too have 3 nest boxes, 2 on the house and 1on a tree opposite which are always used every year. On the estate that l used to work at, l made and put up 13 the beginning of the year and believe me all were taken that year with one taken by a great spotted woodpecker who made the hole bigger so it could get in. Look forward to your next video. 🐤

@susannreiher3004 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! To hear the birds sing and chat and to see them fly about my yard brings such joy. I currently have 4 birdhouses and plan to add another this spring. Here in Pennsylvania, USA one of my regulars (and favorites) is the black capped chickadee.

@jayneeburks8482 3 жыл бұрын

We have Red Breasted Nuthatches and pygmy Nuthatches all winter long. So sweet to watch them.

@jayneeburks8482 3 жыл бұрын

Katrina, what kind of ivy is your hedge. I don’t think I’ve seen those leaves here in the North West US.

@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! We have bluetits in the bird boxes, and I am sure robins are nesting somewhere on our property, because they are all around the place.

@PrettyAliceNight 3 жыл бұрын

Wow I learned a lot here! I’m in the USA and have never seen a birdhouse that opens so I’ve never been able to clean them out (and hasn’t heard you were supposed to) but they still get used year to year. I have also never heard of or seen those metal rings but those are so smart! I’ll have to see if I can find some on the internet. In my backyard my favorites are a mates pair of cardinals and these small birds that I don’t know the kind. We get lots of doves too but they aren’t the regular kind and are huge- the size of pigeons. Apparently they have moved up here (Texas) from Mexico and so the smaller native doves I never see anymore.

@nataliakurdenkova7570 5 ай бұрын

I like Robin too) - They are very curious and friendly

@darkwitch8648 3 жыл бұрын

I could watch you talk about nest boxes all day long, a real beauty 😍

@beverley1539 3 жыл бұрын

Hello from Ontario Canada Thankyou Katrina I will be putting up birdhouses this year. I have some already to go. Great tip about placing away from southern exposure, did not know. Blessings to you and yours.🐝

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Beverley. How’s the snow out there, has it melted yet?

@beverley1539 3 жыл бұрын

@@homegrowngarden No still have a lot and more to come this weekend whhaaa

@katrinaklapproth8788 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, thank you Katrina. In our front garden last year we had two wood pigeons who nest twice in our hedge and they have been hanging around again this year. We have a pair of blackbirds in a hedge in the back garden, they also come back every year. I have bought 2 bird boxes will get the hubby to put them up this weekend. Beautiful video🌸🌸

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Ah-ha! Another Katrina. 👋🏻 Thanks for watching! I hope you get some new residents in your new boxes. I do love the blackbirds too!

@patspadd8243 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Katrina and lovely video thanks showcasing your bird house box methods that I found exciting and educational and I’m lucky where I live in southwest London in sheltered housing that I have a beautiful garden outside my bedroom and kitchen and lounge where there are lots of variety of birds as we’ve got trees and bushes and flowers and a grass lawn to attract the birds and squirrels and the odd Fox and the odd cat so thanks for reading take care stay safe and cheerio

@pennyduncan5980 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for a bit of hope that spring is approaching soon.

@The_man_himself_67 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent! Put some drain holes in the bottom to prevent that damp. Also robins won't nest near other birdboxes. We have the usual sparrows and starlings but Mr Blackbird comes back each year and sings to us in the spring. Magic!

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Good shout about the drainage holes! The other new ones I bought have some for air flow.

@jemimajoulesasmr 3 жыл бұрын

I really like your videos, they are always enjoyable to watch and really informative. Best wishes, Emma

@tim_biller 3 жыл бұрын

Ooh timing! I'm building an additional box with a camera this spring. Thank you for the reminder. (We adore the long-tails - love how they show up as a gang)

@timothyrowley7174 3 жыл бұрын

We have a lilac hedge between us and our neighbor. We usually have 1 or 2 hummingbird nests in the, during the Summer. We grow many hummingbird and butterfly friendly flowers. Also put out a mix of different feeding stations. My favorite garden bird is the oriel. Minnesota, USA.

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Hummingbirds amaze me. They’re so tiny and fast. I wish I could see one in real life one day!

@melstill 3 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you made this now. It's a great reminder. I've been saving some rough boards to build some nest boxes but I always seem to forget until too late. I'll get on it now.

@MissFlutterGirl 3 жыл бұрын

My favourite bird is the long tailed tit also..we have several at our allotment. They are just adorable!

@francineh.7825 3 жыл бұрын

Great information! Even though there is still a lot of snow on the ground I saw a raven flying with nest material so that was encouraging weather wise. I had some pine grosbeaks on my deck yesterday and I was really excited to see them!

@jasminelouisefarrall 2 жыл бұрын

I love my bird boxes and love to collect unusual bespoke ones 💕 excellent advice Katrina 💕

@jennyjohnson9012 3 жыл бұрын

We had bluetits nesting last year in the area right above where we sit and have a cuppa! they didnt seem to mind us at all. They produced 7 beautiful babies. I have now put up a Robin box, so fingers crossed! Love your videos and your allotment.

@jucjuc314 3 жыл бұрын

Another bird watcher/photographer/supporter and gardener here 🙋😊 Here in Germany we have the same common ones as you in the UK. I have a birdbox, which was occupied by great tits last year, they had two breeds, both successful 😊 I had a couple Black Redstart overwintering here in my garden, I love them, just like Eurasian wrens, Nightingales and Robins. I was in Australia a few times and discovered that they have the coolest robins, you should check them out! Pink, Flame, Yellow.. 😍 Thanks for the video I really appreciate that you encourage more people to support and like birds 🤗 Greetings, Judit

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Omg those Australian robins are luminous 😲💗

@hawkinscsa 3 жыл бұрын

Eastern Bluebirds are my favorite.

@funtastygal 3 жыл бұрын

Those 🐦 feeders are so cute. Love your videos.

@maryannditullio2581 3 жыл бұрын

My favorite bird is a Carolina Wren. It is a tiny bird that comes back every year. We first met when making a nest in a bird house on our porch which was waiting to be hung up. He has a beautiful song as well.

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Ahh we have Eurasian wrens! Adorable little things with such a melodic tune. 🎶

@KeithSilva2 3 жыл бұрын

Perhaps consider painting the wooden boxes with boiled linseed oil. It will help them last longer and is nontoxic.

@evandrocristofolini4397 2 жыл бұрын

Hello from Brazil! It is so nice! I think things like this, are good for our soul! I am starting something like that in my parents farm, small farm in country side. South of Brazil, State of Santa Catarina! See you! Thanks for share!

@Greyghost80 Жыл бұрын

I love my wildlife being around me, I always plant sunflowers for the Golden Finches. When the other birds drop the seed I get ducks,rabbits,squirrels & raccoons.

@ecocentrichomestead6783 3 жыл бұрын

I have nesting sites in the eves of my sheds. And some bird friendly shrubs. American robins nest in the eves every year. And sparrows in the shrubs.

@skigdividerx4991 2 жыл бұрын

What a lovely woman. Learned much from this!

@jurgitamotiejuniene9715 3 жыл бұрын

LOVED the video. So inspiring. I hope I will find some information about birds and box sizes in my area.

@iyou6061 3 жыл бұрын

I love Birds ❤️❤️❤️❤️ your voice so beautiful love you 💗

@slashingbison2503 5 ай бұрын

We have a beautiful song thrush that lives in the trees opposite, its songs are amazing.

@bradatkins9616 3 жыл бұрын

I’ve got 3 box’s ready this year, Goldfinches are my favourite 🤩

@marktullis1175 3 жыл бұрын

I am getting ready to place three Bluebird boxes. First time endeavor. I had Great Horned owls nest every year in a home I made for them on top of a telephone pole.

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Wow! That’s pretty impressive 😯 🦉

@coldspring624 3 жыл бұрын

I have quite a few boxes here in Ohio from Owls to Black caps. And without doubt my favorite nesting bird in this area is the Tree swallow. Beautiful line's, color and flight. Its as if they dance in flight and show for our delight

@johnburns7142 5 ай бұрын

I like your presentation, good and clear. Favourite bird goldfinch , get a lot at feeders but not nesting in my boxes. Bluetits mostly nest here. Made open fronted boxes but robins didn't move in. John, in Ireland.☘️☘️☘️🤠

@foodland6653 25 күн бұрын

Beautiful video! ❤very informative 🎉

@premyo4u 3 жыл бұрын

That's a good habit my dear with passion. Watching up to end very interesting.

@mantrafiscus 3 жыл бұрын

This has reminded me that I have a new box in the potting shed, I will look for it later and find somewhere to put it. Last year we had wasps build a nest in one of the bird boxes.

@PirataDeBoriquen Жыл бұрын

What a lovely lady!! It's really a pleasure to see this video listening to her beautiful voice!! 😍

@barrypetejr5655 3 жыл бұрын

I have birds everywhere !!! And i love it 😊

@gretschludwigdrummer209 3 жыл бұрын

What a beautiful video !

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@GaleStrongHammer 3 жыл бұрын

I live I northern California. I get California towhees that nest in my black berry bushes. And some Dark-eyed Juncos that come down from the Sierras.

@bobbilynnmiller742 3 жыл бұрын

I love this video about birds in the garden ! Your sweet spirit and love of nature reminds me of Beatrix Potter !

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

I grew up reading The Brambly Hedge, Beatrix Potter and The Secret Garden. I also watched The Animals of Farthing Wood as a child which explains a lot now I think about it!

@flowerpixel 3 жыл бұрын

@@homegrowngarden you would *really* like jeri landers youtube channel. She gardens like you and writes children's books inspired by Beatrix Potter

@ModelNerd Жыл бұрын

Thanks - this is a really interesting and helpful video. I'll be building a couple of bird boxes soon :)

@locusttreegarden1560 3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful ideas, now I have to buy more bird boxes, already have one but now I am definitely buying more

@jennywilliams6352 3 жыл бұрын

Loved the video! We were cleaning our bird boxes the other day found an old bees nest, they chewed the wood to make the nest. Every year we have starlings nesting in our loft and this year we have house sparrows in one of our nest boxes!

@richardsalley9848 9 ай бұрын

This is good stuff!

@daiseegray9110 3 жыл бұрын

Great info! I put up 4 birdhouse last year and had a nuthatch (I think) make a nest. Looking forward for additional birds to make nest.

@flatsmaraudersfishing 3 жыл бұрын

The Blue Tit call is so alike to its North American cousin, The Chickadee

@varalta.floresta Ай бұрын

hugs from brazil

@teknotony 3 жыл бұрын

Spring is here now in Pembrokeshire, heard a woodpecker on Monday , the bramble buds are moving. I just love robins , the last time I had a feeder up a fledgling robin frequented. Thanks for the upload.

@mttdrawing8427 2 жыл бұрын

Nest boxe🐣❤️👍🏻

@evafiore115 3 жыл бұрын

Im from Nottingham too and find your channel so informative

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Eva! ☺️

@steveninglis6140 2 жыл бұрын

My favorite is the indigo bunting !

@stephenblaze4571 3 жыл бұрын

Goldfinch thanks for the video

@geoffbowdin7189 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!! Love your channel Btw!! Very useful information as I have a massive Caterpillar and Aphid problem in my garden.. I did build some bird boxes last year and mounted them on my trees but they've not been inhabited sadly.. I'll try again with your recommended entry hole sizes this time!! :D

@redtoxicextazy Ай бұрын

Very useful video

@stepheneastwood3035 3 жыл бұрын

I have Woodpecker, wren, blue tit, robins, blackbird, pigeon and swift some years all nesting in the garden. Also loads of goldfinch and a bullfinch that appears every spring. Have lots of trees and shrubs with areas left undisturbed. Inner city Leeds . See a red kite overhead quite often.

@toneyjohnson8910 3 жыл бұрын

I need to add a few nesting boxes thanks for the Idea.

@adamkissel4168 3 жыл бұрын

Hi from Brisbane, Australia . I just put up six feeder seed trays and a seed wheel on our trees.. they are being frequented by willy wagtails (a kind of fan-tailed thrush) . My favourite birds here are sulphur crested cockatoos who tuck into various tree top pods. Any nesting boxes would be attacked I fear by our local gothic magpies and kookaburra henchmen, who are the ornithological stasi. They killed our canary when his cage was outside. Great video once again though.!!!

@blokenearexeter 2 жыл бұрын

good tips

@michaeldemetriou3043 3 жыл бұрын

Have done a lot of work to your allotment. Bird 🐦 boxes are Awesome 👌👏

@annicascountrylife7561 3 жыл бұрын

It will be fun to see which birds will be nesting in your bird boxes. I have mostly Blue Tit, Great Tit, Tree Sparrow and Pied Flycatcher in the boxes. It is easier to clean the box if you can open the front. Check my new video. Today I will try to build some more bird boxes.

@ankabubanj5483 3 жыл бұрын

Long time no see... We missed you... Lovely video... See you... Stay safe...

@stuartmacinnes8992 3 жыл бұрын

Great useful video thank you .

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching 🙂

@breakawayfromme 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for uploading this, I just put up our first box the other day My favourite bird that comes here is probably the robins, After watching this I'm tempted to make them a nest box, the one I bought is suitable but I have some old wood, might be an interesting project

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Go for it! Good luck!

@lenifromthewhitecottage2963 3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful video! I just ordered two bird boxes myself :)

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant 🙌🏻

@matthewtanner9823 3 жыл бұрын

The One cal cooking spray is good to preserve the rubber on Nest boxes and is vegetable based so does no harm to birds. The natural oils prevent the rubber from drying out and cracking. My favourite bird is the Blackbird...I love it's song and also, My Dad used to have a male one that would follow him around the garden. It got that used to him that it would even land on his fork and then fly down and grab a worm or two for it's family. The second year of it doing it. It landed on the guttering above the kitchen window, it would hang off almost upside down and tap on the kitchen window, for him to come out and do some more digging. It even taught it's offspring to do it.

@barbaramagri4209 3 жыл бұрын

Bellissimo video Come gli altri del resto!!!

@itsmewende 3 жыл бұрын

I haven't any birdhouses....yet, because I insanely decided to keep 5 feral kittens last June. We do have some birds that would rather be a bit higher, and I do have some areas the cats can't get to. In 2020 I made a bird feeder table after watching Monty Don show how he converts his potting table. I truly enjoyed watching all the different birds. Here in the states were I am, on the east coast, just over an hour from the Atlantic, my faves are the Gold Finch, Cardinal, and Blue bird, I like the Blue Jay as well, but he doesn't play well with others. Fingers crossed you have Robins in your box soon.

@outnumbered6123 3 жыл бұрын

My favourite bird in the garden is the willy wag tail.

@PurpleSweetPea206 3 жыл бұрын

Another's lovely video think I'm going to make some bird boxes this year...

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

That’s a great idea! My bid blue tit was was hand made by the allotment team. I’m not very handy but I should really try it!

@jayena 3 жыл бұрын

Loved this video

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

🤞🏻

@sebastiannishanthan1990 Жыл бұрын

@@homegrowngarden any updates especially on the Robin?

@roslynm5492 2 жыл бұрын

Here in Melbourne I love the supurb blue wren and are trying to attract them to our garden however I think the ravens, noisy minors and magpies scare them off. I’m planting more dense prickly foliage for them to be able to hide in and will build a box.

@haphazardgardener8651 3 жыл бұрын

We have mockingbirds, robins that migrate through and use us as a stopping point, chickadees, and scrub Jays

@A2Z1Two3 2 жыл бұрын

The nest boxes our local council use have small holes in the bottom , presumably to let moisture out.

@metamud8686 3 жыл бұрын

Why is it that the metal plate prevents the predators from entering? The hole has the same size, I would think? Or is it because otherwise the predators ream out the hole to make it bigger so they can get in? Lovely way to wear the mic! You really hit it spot on with it hidden in plain sight on your scarf! :-) Great show again, thanks for sharing!

@homegrowngarden 3 жыл бұрын

Heya! That’s right, predatory birds will peck through the wood to widen the hole and squirrels would chew through it. Thanks for watching ☺️

@tonycollins9696 6 ай бұрын

Great Presentation. And good information. Intend to put up 2 boxes this year. One for Robins. One for Great Tits. Well Done you.

@BoldlyGrowHomestead 3 жыл бұрын

I don't have any birdhouses yet but it is on the list of things I want to practice building this year. I do have to be careful, my neighbors cats hunt our grounds. Keeps the rodents in check but would be worried for the birds.

@ToxicVaccines_HivHoax 3 жыл бұрын

To reduce the amount of mould at the bottom of the bird boxes you can drill 4 holes on the four corners at the bottom, on the floor of the bird box. Ideally the holes need to be triangular in shape, right on the corners of the box. I used a drill to drill these holes, and a sturdy knife to carve out the rest of the wood to get the triangular shaped holes right on the four corners of the box floor. Also, you can cut off about half inch of the front panel of the box, right at the top, underneath the roof cover. This will enable better air circulation. Also use a hair dryer to dry the bottom of the box after you pour hot water in to it to clean it.

@martharex8486 3 жыл бұрын

Katrina - We love seeing the different bird species you have in England on your videos. Your little Robin is much different from our Robin in the U.S. We would enjoy seeing video of some other English bird species, Blue Tits, Bull Finch etc. Also what variety of pigeons eat your peas? We both are very interested in wild pigeons and doves. (I know horticulture AND aviculture videos, too much work!) Cheers, Mike and Martha