National Nest Box Week 2018

National Nest Box Week 2018

With the breeding season for our wild birds just around the corner why not join in with BTO’s National Nest Box Week from the 14th - 21st February? The BTO launched NNBW to encourage more people to put up nest boxes in their local areas, with the aim to promote more biodiversity of species in your area and to help conservation of our wildlife.

With natural breeding habitat availability on a constant decline, due to more gardens being perfectly manicured and more old buildings being converted, our wild birds are finding it ever more difficult to successfully breed. Just one nest box in your garden could hugely benefit the local population of birds in your area.

Nest boxes can be put up at any time of the year, but February is an ideal time to check existing nest boxes or put new ones up as the wild birds will be searching for nesting sites ready for when the breeding season begins around March/April time. Make a family activity of it or get your local community involved with putting up nest boxes in gardens and surrounding areas and help do your bit for conserving our natural wildlife.

Although it is lovely to see a feathered family growing in your nest boxes don’t forget parents will abandon their young if disturbed.  Observe from a distance or place a wildlife camera nearby to capture all the action.

If you have nest boxes already up or if you are putting new ones up then don’t forget to register your nest box online with the nest box challenge to help the BTO gauge the breeding success of our wild birds.