What’s the Idea?
Kids love crafts and wildlife so why not combine the two and make your own personalised bird nesting box to hang in your outside space.
What’s the story
A few days ago we were in the garden and we noticed that a birds nest had fallen from one of the trees above.
Sadly, the nest looked empty and we felt sorry for the little bird that worked so hard.
So, the kids decided that they wanted to make a bird nesting box and get involved in making it themselves.
I found many lovely ideas online, all different sizes with some more complicated than others!
As my kids are still under ten we decided to go for the smaller, nail and glue-free option.
People should do this because…?
Firstly, this is a fun way to get the kids involved in a craft while hopefully helping out some little birds.
Secondly, it’s easy and inexpensive.
You can recycle materials from home, or use craft packs to make your own natural wooden nest box.
We decided to go with a craft pack as it was very straight forward for the kids to follow the instructions.
Thirdly, providing birds with a home is a great way to attract them to your garden and encourage them to stay.
Best of all, bird nesting boxes make great gifts for grandparents!
We might try one of the recycled materials bird box crafts next!
If you’re interested in birds, check out how to make a birdfeeder here.
How do you do it?
According to the RSPB, different types of birds will nest at different times.
However, the best time to put up a bird box is in the autumn.
Many birds will be looking for somewhere to roost or feed during this time.
We decided to put our bird boxes in the garden now so that the birds can get used to them.
If you are looking to attract a certain type of bird, decide the size of the whole and house.
Some ideas on how to get started with your bird box activity:
Bird Box Craft Kits:
- Baker Ross Craft Kits – £5 for a pack of two
- Robotime 3D Wooden House Kit – £15 each
Make your own natural nest box with pieces of wood:
- RSPB – a step by step guide
Make a bird box from recycled materials:
- Have a look at this article on Howstuffworks.com
Once you have constructed the box and decorated it, fill with a few natural items.
Examples include twigs, leaves, grass, bark or woodchopping inside.
Have a look at this article from BirdBarn here.
The NHBS Guide to bird boxes says that once your box is made, locating it correctly is a key determinant in how likely birds are to occupy them.
Stuff you may need
Materials will be different depending on the type of bird box you decide to make:
- A craft kit
- Paints, pens
- Recycled household materials
- Wood planks
- Galvanised nails screws
- Hammer
- Saw
- A drill
Links to other stuffer pages
Links to other articles on the web
https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/games-and-activities/activities/make-a-nestbox/
https://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/crafts/recycled/how-to-make-recycled-bird-house.htm
