Nest boxes

I've been making nest boxes for cavity-nesting species for more then 60 years.

In the past I have used all sorts of second hand materials- hollow logs, terracotta pipes, small dog kennells etc.

Now I mostly use radiata pine.

Here are just a few photos of the critters who use them:

Sugar Glider:

[Brush-tailed Phascogale:

Micro Bat:

White-throated Treecreeper:

Cheers,

al

Thanks Alison,

I'll put up some more pics as soon as I have figured out how to make them a little bigger on here.

Cheers,

al

Edited 07/09/12 to resize photos.

Yes I do Woko, but only with feral bees occasionally invading one of the boxes.

Feathertail Glider:

Agile Antechinus:

Cheers,

al

What a "HERO" you are al. !!!!  I wish I had some of those boxes.

I think skin blister is rhyming slang for sister????

Thanks Guys,

Tim, good luck with your glider survey. Don't forget your camera :) Would love to see what you find.

M-L, You made this old man .. you can buy nest boxes here:

http://www.latrobe.edu.au/wildlife/nursery/nestboxes/natives

They make the best and cheapest boxes in Victoria.

Don't know how big your property is but it's always best to put up several boxes.

Woko, I monitor my boxes regularly. When bees invade one of the boxes I seal off the entrance after dark

when all the bees are inside. Then I take the box down and burn it.

As I put my boxes up in clusters of about six, a short distance apart, the animals still have other boxes to go into to hide from predators.

Nankeen Kestrel:

Cheers,

al

A very thorough method of managing feral bees, al. Your nest boxes seem to be doing their bit to conserve the wildlife in your area. Maaaarvellous!

Interesting  one Nightparrot. Your post has made me wonder what the early white settlers did for fruit & vegetables before European honey bees came to Australia. Did the native bees pollinate the introduced fruit & vegetables? Or did the settlers use native bush tucker? Or did they rely on imports? Or a combination of both? Or did they bring honey bees with them on the First Fleet to ensure there would be First Crops?

I can't help thinking that some human-induced disturbance to the environment is at the root of the European honey bee problem in the nothern hemisphere. What little I've read on the topic suggests this is the case. Which shows how careful we need to be when we mess with the environment. However, I vaguely recall there has been some research into the part native bees might play in pollination of our food crops.  

Should our European honey bees become threatened & native bees don't do the pollination honours then we'll be faced with a big problem since we've made ourselves dependent on the European honey bees for much of our food production.  But while our own honey bee populations aren't under threat I'd suggest we be careful with our environment so they don't become so while simultaneously protecting our vanishing native bee, bird & mammal populations. This could well mean adopting al's approach to feral bees in nest boxes. We might also want to continue research into native bees & pollination so that we might have a Plan B.

Was wondering whether anyone can advise on how long it may take for next boxes to be occupied ...

We have a bird bath and food stand where Rosellas and King Parrots, eat and drink daily.

Then we installed three brand 'new houses' and are waiting for birds or possums to move in ...

However, there is an existing small box high up in an old pine tree, which already has a resident possum in it.

So I am hoping that the beautiful birds who are eating and drinking in the garden will want to nest in the garden too : )

I would also like to attract smaller birds, and will investigate smaller habitats for them!?

We will next be planting gravilleas, warratahs, and so on, in the hopes of attracting nectar eating birds and others ...

Looking forward to hearing of any similar stories, successes or constructive advice : )

Linda

Hi Linda. All good information from Night Parrot.

The more indigenous vegetation you (& your neighbours) can plant the greater the variety of bird species & other native creatures you'll attract. Some butterfly species depend on native grasses so these can be included in your bird-attracting plantings because some bird species feed on butterfly larvae . Ensure that any grasses you plant are indigenous species because grasses can be invasive.

Some nest box builders include a hinged & tightly latched floor so that feral creatures (such as Common Starlings & Indian Mynas) & their nests can be removed should they take up residence.

You might want to use the search box at the top of this page to get information on artificial feeding of birds. There's a variety of opinions on this.

And good luck from me, too.

I've certainly had birds investigating the (Rosella) nest boxes I put up within weeks, but unfortunately the ringtail possums moved in to both the original one and the replacement I put up for the birds. That's OK, ringtails are not too bad and less aggro than the brushtails, but I would really love some rosellas...

Oh I love Pink tongues. I have 3 of them myself.

I love the nest boxes. I did some work at a school as a chaplain and we made nest boxes with some special needs kids.

Sadly we ran out of time and didn't get a chance to put them up. (I still have them at home)

The area we were going to put them up in was cleared anyway so lucky we didn't.

I would love to make some more but made the last ones out of 9mm ply and then painted it.

I soon found out that ply is not such a good idea unless its marine ply.

Oh well you live & learn.