Re: Tree sparrow nest boxes
Discussion Forum
Tree sparrow nest boxes
JoulesH
07 May 2009, 10:39 AM
We have tree sparrows on our mixed farm (not sure where they currently nest) and have 6 nest boxes to put up for them - any advice please on siting, height etc? We have some mature hedgerow trees (mainly ash) plus a few stream corridors with old but recently pollarded willow, mature ash, field maple etc and a few small oak spinneys. We could also put some poles/fence posts in the ground to attach them too if this is a better option.
Re: Tree sparrow nest boxes
alauda26
07 May 2009, 4:58 PM
Hi Joules -
If any of the mature ash are near the stream corridors, then a 2-3 of those sound good. I would avoid the spinneys themselves and keep to hedgerow trees.
I find best occupation if I put up clusters of 2 or 3 nest-boxes (28mm diameter round hole) around the trunk of a mature hedgerow tree, at least 2 metres up. Make sure the flight path in and out of the box is clear - tree sparrows like to have a clear vista.
Tree sparrows are almost certainly already having broods already as they start egg-laying from April onwards, however it will give your boxes plenty of weathering time ready for next season.
Are there any likely winter feeding areas nearby too?
Good luck!
Re: Tree sparrow nest boxes
JoulesH
07 May 2009, 5:31 PM
Thanks. We can put them not too far from one of our wild bird seed plots.
Re: Tree sparrow nest boxes
Richard Lockett
08 May 2009, 9:58 AM
I'd echo these suggestions. We did a project putting up a couple of hundred boxes on 20 farms. Hedgerow trees are ideal, especially near still or running water - good for insect productivity at chick feeding time. We had quite a lot of success with boxes on trees around farmyards too.
Re: Tree sparrow nest boxes
alauda26
31 Aug 2010, 12:46 PM
To follow up the discussion on nest boxes for tree sparrows - does anyone have any experience of them using the sparrow terrace-style boxes? Yay, or nay?
Re: Tree sparrow nest boxes
richardwinspear
31 Aug 2010, 1:28 PM
Yes - I got one of the three-chambered terraces, but they only used one chamber at a time, so it wasn't really worth it! Only got experience of one, so might not be representative of wider use. The RSPB Ouse Washes reserve built a massive multi-storey hut, which they erected on a pole and got many pairs nesting in it, but not sure that they ever used two adjacent boxes
Re: Tree sparrow nest boxes
Matthew
01 Sep 2010, 7:42 PM
Agree with Richard. I've found best occupancy where you use individual boxes but as Kirsty says in clusters of 2 or 3. Site them above the hedge line (Peter Thompson I think ?) suggests that at the hedge line or below the boxes may be more prone to attack from weasels and stoats. Definately near water seems best - either ditches or farm ponds, and also near wild bird mix. Early evidence from some monitoring on farms in Warwickshire (and it is early and purely anecdotal !) suggests that winter food provision and nest boxes are really helping the local populations to increase.
Matt
Re: Tree sparrow nest boxes
emberiza
02 Sep 2010, 11:10 AM
I have some experience of this putting up in excess of perhaps 1,000 tree sparrow boxes over the years (thanks to inmates at a local prison!)
My experience is that the 'hotel' nestboxes attract birds into some of the boxes, but they don't use all of them (often the outer 2).
Its often better to have a individual box and there does seem to be an optimal spacing of nesting boxes, so try and avoid placing them immediatly next to each other 6 - 10 ft apart is about right.
Where House Sparrows occur you will often find Tree Sparrows utilising the near middle of the hedge rather than above the hedge, Presumably as House Sparrows dominate over Tree Sparrows (but not in all countries!). Dependent on the size of hedge then it maybe worth placing them near the middle of the hedge, as long as that exceeds 6 - 10ft (dependent on the site) from ground level) and facing between North and East.
It maybe worth supplementry feeding in the first winter to attract them to an optimal breeding area (since Tree sparrows are nomadic in search of winter food and can move upto 18km during this period). This supplementry feeding should be from millet and possibly kibbled maize (but consider that kibbled maize will rot as soon as it gets slightly damp). Then this should be replaced by options that will provide Tree sparrow food over the winter (a wild bird mix that contains white millet is essential).
Insect rich habitat is vital and water borne insects are often favoured (this is where Tree sparrows tend to fair best). Buffering ponds ditches and other wet features along with an adjacent nectar rich habitat will provide good provision.
Ash is will often readily deadwood and provide natural nesting cavities, it maybe worth adding new ash tree in as feature trees in a hedgerow to provide sucession in years to come.
Interestingly I had one box with a Blue Tit nesting but a tree sparrow kicked them out and built a nest over the top of the Blue Tits nest and eggs!