kibrisbirds
Well-known member
meaning seeing them in the nestbox, not the sky!
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House martin nestboxes (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ANdy5551
- Start date
Just some of my experiences
Housemartins take years to become master nest builders.
Housemartins seem to be Owl's favorite delicacy, destroying a nest in secs and hauling in its talons 4 or 5 martins in a go.
Housematins like nesting on any eaves/ window recesses, no matter the compass direction.
...The genaral communal living of martins means they often spend time in each others nests ( except for young )
I destroy all the martin nests each winter, the parasites they hoard are evil, but thats no problem as they are happy building new each year if I let them.
...... but to get rid of the owl problem I make 'flycatcher' boxes and site them under the eaves/windows. they sometimes nest in them and sometimes on top but they love em.
..... I don't use expanding foam sprayed around a suitabley sized ball and cut into 4 because the stuff seems carciogenic.
Housemartins take years to become master nest builders.
Housemartins seem to be Owl's favorite delicacy, destroying a nest in secs and hauling in its talons 4 or 5 martins in a go.
Housematins like nesting on any eaves/ window recesses, no matter the compass direction.
...The genaral communal living of martins means they often spend time in each others nests ( except for young )
I destroy all the martin nests each winter, the parasites they hoard are evil, but thats no problem as they are happy building new each year if I let them.
...... but to get rid of the owl problem I make 'flycatcher' boxes and site them under the eaves/windows. they sometimes nest in them and sometimes on top but they love em.
..... I don't use expanding foam sprayed around a suitabley sized ball and cut into 4 because the stuff seems carciogenic.
ANdy5551
Urbicafan
Fountain,
I too have ssen a house with a fly catcher type box under the eaves that the martins have used, filling the top half with mud. Any chance you could post a pic or two showing where these are situated to give me some ideas?
Cheers
I'm here now!! ....
not that what I do will work for you, but it may.
Its worth putting up something now cause the young will be searching for nest sites before they migrate.
The pic was taken today, one of several of the same, though a new shape this year. I will go back to the flycatcher letterbox next year however as they are a bit better.
Nothing has to be done to the boxes, they will build up the mud themselves and the nest lining.
Basically the better design is the same depth hole as in the pic but cut all across instead of a quadrant. they will build up their own entrance out of mud.
however, the young are using the box in the picture too.
Its important to leave the space above the roof forthem to build their own. but this way their nests dont collapse in bad weather and the owls can't get them.
I will have another look later for pics of the previous years boxes .
not that what I do will work for you, but it may.
Its worth putting up something now cause the young will be searching for nest sites before they migrate.
The pic was taken today, one of several of the same, though a new shape this year. I will go back to the flycatcher letterbox next year however as they are a bit better.
Nothing has to be done to the boxes, they will build up the mud themselves and the nest lining.
Basically the better design is the same depth hole as in the pic but cut all across instead of a quadrant. they will build up their own entrance out of mud.
however, the young are using the box in the picture too.
Its important to leave the space above the roof forthem to build their own. but this way their nests dont collapse in bad weather and the owls can't get them.
I will have another look later for pics of the previous years boxes .
Attachments
ANdy5551
Urbicafan
Thanks a lot,
so the upper half of the box is open. Have seen this useda while ago and successfully attracted them to build that half up themselves but box was flush under the eaves so no room on top.
Much appreciated.
Cheers
Andy
so the upper half of the box is open. Have seen this useda while ago and successfully attracted them to build that half up themselves but box was flush under the eaves so no room on top.
Much appreciated.
Cheers
Andy
This was one of the most successful boxes, shown in the later part of the year, when the broods were younger mud was built up around the 'letterbox' ... but the chicks at this age approved of the design!!!
2 nests were built above ( just enough room) and one below.
