Nestbox Instruction Template
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1Make a nestbox
If you’d like to help the birds in your garden, why not have a
go at making your own nestbox?
Please ask an adult to help as you may need to use tools that could hurt you.
1.
Natural nest holes don’t come in standard sizes, so
please use the following sizes as a guide. Use a
plank about 150 mm wide and 15 mm thick. Use the
diagram to help you.
2.
The inside of the box must be at lease 100 mm
square and the bottom of the entrance hole must
be at least 125 mm from the floor. If it is less, young
birds might be scooped out by a cat.
3.
Use galvanised nails or screws. The inside front sur-
face should be rough – this will help the young birds
to clamber up. A drainage hole in the base will also
help to stop the box getting damp inside.
4.
Hinge the lid with a strip of leather or rubber (an old
piece of bicycle inner tube would do). Do not nail
the lid down (because you will need to clean out
the box in autumn). Instead, use a catch to keep it
closed.
5.
The entrance hole size depends on the type of bird
you want to attract:
•
25 mm for coal tits, marsh tits and blue tits
•
28 mm for great tits and tree sparrows
•
32 mm for nuthatches and house sparrows
•
A starling box needs to be 25-30% larger with an
entrance 45 mm across
If you remove the top half of the front panel, the same type of box could attract robins, pied wagtails or wrens to
nest. Spotted flycatchers prefer an even shallower, open-fronted box.
Softwood boxes (such as pine) can be treated with water-based wood preservatives, such as Fenceguard or
Sadolin: apply only to the outside of the box, and not around the entrance hole. Whatever you use, make sure
the box dries and airs thoroughly before putting it up.
RSPB Wildlife Explorers is the junior
membership of the RSPB
PLEASE DO NOT use chemicals like wood preservatives
without an adult – they can be dangerous.
.uk/youth
The RSPB is a registered charity in England & Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654
330-0654-13-14
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