nest box

Nest boxes are usually wooden, although the purple martin will nest in metal.{{Cite web |date=2010-03-10 |title=Before Buying a Birdhouse |url=http://blog.duncraft.com/2010/03/10/before-buying-a-birdhouse/ |access-date=12 March 2014 |website=Duncraft's Wild Bird Blog}}{{rs|date=June 2023}} Some boxes are made from a mixture of wood and concrete, called woodcrete.{{Cite journal |last=Browne |first=Stephen J. |date=2006-07-01 |title=Effect of nestbox construction and colour on the occupancy and breeding success of nesting tits Parus spp. |journal=Bird Study |volume=53 |issue=2 |pages=187–192 |doi=10.1080/00063650609461432 |issn=0006-3657 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2006BirdS..53..187B }} Ceramic and plastic nestboxes are not suitable.{{Cite web |title=Details |url=http://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/414752-keep-nest-boxes-simple-not-stylish-says-rspb |website=The RSPB}}

Nest boxes should be made from untreated wood with an overhanging, sloped roof, a recessed floor, drainage and ventilation holes, a way to access the interior for monitoring and cleaning, and have no outside perches which could assist predators.{{Cite web |title=Attracting Birds With Nest Boxes |url=http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=1139 |access-date=12 March 2014 |website=The Cornell Lab of Ornithology |publisher=Cornell University}} Boxes may either have an entrance hole or be open-fronted.{{Cite web |title=Putting up a nest box {{!}} BTO - British Trust for Ornithology |url=https://www.bto.org/about-birds/nnbw/putting-up-a-nest-box |access-date=2017-03-05 |website=www.bto.org |language=en |archive-date=2017-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306131125/https://www.bto.org/about-birds/nnbw/putting-up-a-nest-box |url-status=dead }} Some nest boxes can be highly decorated and complex, sometimes mimicking human houses or other structures. They may also contain nest box cameras so that use of, and activity within, the box can be monitored.{{Cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Tina |last2=Cooper |first2=Caren |title=Lights, Camera, Action! Nest Box Cam technology reveals rarely seen events |url=http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/Birdscope/Winter2006/nest_box_cams.html |access-date=12 March 2014 |website=Cornell Lab of Ornithology |publisher=Cornell University}}

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The diameter of the opening in a nest-box has a very strong influence on the species of birds that will use the box. Many small birds select boxes with a hole only just large enough for an adult bird to pass through. This may be an adaptation to prevent other birds from raiding it. In European countries, an opening of 2.5 cm in diameter will attract Poecile palustris, Poecile montanus; an opening of 2.8 cm in diameter will attract Ficedula hypoleuca, and an opening of 3 cm in diameter will attract Parus major, Passer montanus, an opening of 3.2 cm in diameter will attract Passer domesticus.{{Citation |last=Pauline Pears |title=HDRA encyclopedia of organic gardening |year=2005 |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |isbn=978-1405308915}}

The size of the nest box also affects the bird species likely to use the box. Very small boxes attract wrens and treecreepers and very large ones may attract ducks and owls. Seasonally removing old nest material and parasites is important if they are to be successfully re-used.

The material used in the construction may also be significant. Sparrows have been shown to prefer woodcrete boxes rather than wooden ones. Birds nesting in woodcrete sites had earlier clutches, a shorter incubation period, and more reproductive success, perhaps because the synthetic nests were warmer than their wooden counterparts.{{Cite journal |last1=García-Navas |first1=Vicente |last2=Arroyo |first2=Luis |last3=Sanz |first3=Juan José |last4=Díaz |first4=Mario |year=2008 |title=Effect of nestbox type on occupancy and breeding biology of tree sparrows Passer montanus in central Spain |url=http://www.ccma.csic.es/index.php/es/def/pdf1330?modelo=publicacion |url-status=dead |format=PDF |journal=Ibis |volume=150 |issue=2 |pages=356–364 |doi=10.1111/j.1474-919X.2008.00799.x |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930134423/http://www.ccma.csic.es/index.php/es/def/pdf1330?modelo=publicacion |archive-date=2010-09-30 |hdl-access=free |hdl=10261/110551}}

Placement of the nest box is also significant. Some birds (including birds of prey{{Cite web |title=Falcon nest box position |url=http://www.raptorresource.org:80/build.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516151144/http://www.raptorresource.org/build.htm |archive-date=2017-05-16 |access-date=2014-05-16 |url-status=live }}{{Cite book |title=Various nest box designs (various species) |date=23 January 2018 |isbn=978-1-908581-84-6 |url=http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/nrs/publications/bto-nestbox-guide |last1=Cromack |first1=David |publisher=British Trust for Ornithology }}) prefer their nest box to be at a particular height, while others (such as ducks) may prefer them to be very low or even at ground level. Orientation relative to the sun is also important, with many birds preferring their boxes to be away from direct sun and sheltered from the prevailing rain.{{Cite web |title=Siting a nest-box |url=http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/nestboxes/smallbirds/siting.aspx |website=RSPB}}

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File:Bat box in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (41119).jpg

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Bat boxes differ from bird nest-boxes in typical design, with the larger opening on the underside of the box, and are more often referred to as bat boxes, although in regard to the rearing of young, they serve the same purpose. Some threatened bat species can be locally supported with the provision of appropriately placed bat-boxes; however, species that roost in foliage or large cavities will not use bat boxes. Bat boxes are typically made out of wood, and there are several designs for boxes with single or multiple chambers. Directions for making the open bottom bat houses for small and large colonies,{{Cite web |title=Single chamber bat house (wall mounted) |url=http://www.batcon.org/bhra/economyhouse.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031064253/http://www.batcon.org/bhra/economyhouse.html |archive-date=2007-10-31 |access-date=2007-11-17 |publisher=Bat Conservation International}}{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Carla |title=Why I Built A Bat House |url=http://www.nwf.org/backyard/bathouse.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124095713/http://www.nwf.org/backyard/bathouse.cfm |archive-date=2007-11-24 |access-date=2007-11-17 |publisher=National Wildlife Federation}} as well as locations to purchase them are available on the internet.{{Cite web |last=Boleky |first=Vaughan |date=2005–2006 |title=Why Are Bat Houses Important? |url=http://www.batconservation.org/content/Bathouseimportance.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110214116/http://www.batconservation.org/content/Bathouseimportance.html |archive-date=2007-11-10 |access-date=2007-11-17 |publisher=Organization for Bat Conservation}} Colour and placement is important to ensuring that bat boxes are used; bat boxes that are too shaded will not heat up enough to attract a maternity colony of bats. Australian bat box projects have been running for over 12 years in particular at the Organ Pipes National Park. Currently there are 42 roost boxes using the "Stebbings Design" which have peaked at 280 bats roosting in them. The biggest problem with roosting boxes of any kind is the ongoing maintenance; problems include boxes falling down, wood deteriorating, and pests such as ants, the occasional rat, possums, and spiders.{{Cite book |last1=Tuttle |first1=Merlin D. |url=http://www.batcon.org/pdfs/BHBuildersHdbk13_Online.pdf |title=The Bat House Builder's Handbook |last2=Kiser |first2=Mark |last3=Kiser |first3=Selena |date=2013 |publisher=Bat Conservation International |access-date=2016-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419232322/http://www.batcon.org/pdfs/BHBuildersHdbk13_Online.pdf |archive-date=2016-04-19}}

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{{seealso|Insect hotel}}

Nest boxes are marketed not only for birds, but also for butterflies{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Terry W. |title=Out My Backdoor: Do Butterfly Boxes Work? |url=https://georgiawildlife.com/out-my-backdoor-do-butterfly-boxes-work |access-date=17 December 2018 |website=Out My Backdoor |publisher=GA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES}}{{Cite web |last=Bergström |first=Nina |date=2011-06-19 |title=Fixa fint för fjärilarna |url=http://www.expressen.se/levabo/1.2471419/fixa-fint-for-fjarilarna |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619040128/http://www.expressen.se/levabo/1.2471419/fixa-fint-for-fjarilarna |archive-date=2011-06-19 |access-date=28 June 2011 |website=Expressen |language=Swedish}} and mammals, especially arboreal ones such as squirrels and opossums. Depending on the animal, these boxes may be used for roosting, breeding, or both, or, as in the case with butterflies, hibernation.

Wasps, bumble-bees, or other insects may build their nests inside a nest box intended for other animals, and may exclude the intended species.{{Cite web |title=Managing Nest Box Competitors |url=https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/controlling-competitors-non-natives/ |access-date=2014-09-12 |website=Nest Watch}}

File:Koolmees op nest.jpg|Great tit nesting in a nest box

File:An unusual case of two wasp nests inside one nest box purposefully set for Boreal Owls.jpg|alt=Two wasp nests inside a nest box|Two wasp nests inside a nest box set for boreal owls

File:Nest box for Columba guinea in Zerfenti.jpg|Traditional nest box for Columba guinea in the wall of a homestead in Zerfenti (Ethiopia)

File:Gramercy Park birdhouse.jpg|Birdhouses in Gramercy Park, New York City, note the use of different diameter entrance holes

File:University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum - nest box.jpg|Nest Box at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum

• Artificial bird nests
• Biological pest control: birds can help controlling pests in agriculture; section also details the planting of food crops for birds

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category|Nest boxes}}

• {{Cite web |title=Nest box page |url=https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/nestboxes/ |website=Royal Society for the Protection of Birds}}
• {{Cite web |title=Birds Australia Information Sheet 5: Nestboxes for Natives |url=http://www.sustainablebluemountains.net.au/localliving/more/files/Nestboxes.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916044303/http://www.sustainablebluemountains.net.au/localliving/more/files/Nestboxes.pdf |archive-date=2009-09-16}}
• {{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Rob |date=12 July 2006 |title=Birdhouses |url=https://southernspaces.org/2006/birdhouses/ |website=Southern Spaces}}
• {{wiktionary-inline|birdhouse}}
• {{wiktionary-inline|nest box}}

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