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    How To Build A Bird Box For House Sparrows

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    Sam Martz
    House sparrow numbers have declined 50% since 1979 in the UK. This document provides instructions for building a bird box to help reverse that decline. It describes using exterior plywood to make a box with three compartments and entrance holes 32mm in diameter. Additional tips include placing the box close to eaves facing north or east and cleaning it out at the end of the breeding season. The box was used by great tits instead of house sparrows in one example.

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    How To Build A Bird Box For House Sparrows

    Uploaded by

    Sam Martz
    122 views2 pages
    House sparrow numbers have declined 50% since 1979 in the UK. This document provides instructions for building a bird box to help reverse that decline. It describes using exterior plywood to make a box with three compartments and entrance holes 32mm in diameter. Additional tips include placing the box close to eaves facing north or east and cleaning it out at the end of the breeding season. The box was used by great tits instead of house sparrows in one example.

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    How to build a bird box for house sparrows

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    House sparrow numbers have declined 50% since 1979 in the UK. This document provides instructions for building a bird box to help reverse that decline. It describes using exterior plywood to make a box with three compartments and entrance holes 32mm in diameter. Additional tips include placing the box close to eaves facing north or east and cleaning it out at the end of the breeding season. The box was used by great tits instead of house sparrows in one example.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    122 views2 pages

    How To Build A Bird Box For House Sparrows

    Uploaded by

    Sam Martz
    House sparrow numbers have declined 50% since 1979 in the UK. This document provides instructions for building a bird box to help reverse that decline. It describes using exterior plywood to make a box with three compartments and entrance holes 32mm in diameter. Additional tips include placing the box close to eaves facing north or east and cleaning it out at the end of the breeding season. The box was used by great tits instead of house sparrows in one example.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    1/14/2021 How to build a bird box for house sparrows

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    How to build a bird box for house sparrows


    Where have all the sparrows gone? It's hard to imagine that this once common British bird is in serious decline in some parts of the country,
    particularly in London. Nationally there has been a 50% fall in sparrow numbers since 1979.

    Click on any of the pictures below for an enlarged view and for more information

    Sparrows often nest under the eaves of houses but Sparrows are gregarious birds. This home made nest box uses
    many modern houses are not 'sparrow friendly'. 12mm exterior plywood and will accommodate up to three
    This bird box will help reverse the decline. breeding pairs of house sparrows.

    Please check that any plywood you use for your bird boxes comes from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) sources. FSC certified tropical hardwood
    plywood ensures that the use of the material will not damage forests, harm wildlife or jeopardise the future of people whose lives depend on the
    forests. An easiliy available source would be B&Q as B&Q (UK) announced that from September 2009 it would only buy Forest Stewardship Council
    timber and that the FSC label would be on the timber product.

    A cutting plan can be found and printed by clicking here. Picture 1, above, shows what looks basically like a book rack, with 3 separate compartments.
    A roof overhang at the sides and front (picture 2) helps to help keep the interior dry. The small batten part way up the side gives the young birds a
    chance for a peek at the outside world before making that all important first flight. Waterproof wood glue and number 4 brass screws were used to
    secure the panels. The front is fixed with screws only, to enable the box to be cleaned out at the end of the season.

    The 32 mm holes accommodate house sparrows, tree sparrows and nuthatches. Keep the hole near the roof to deter predators and drill a couple of
    small holes in the base of each compartment to keep the nest dry. Water-based wood stain can be used to enhance and protect the nest box, but on the
    outside of the box only. Try also to keep any preservative away from the entrance hole. Fenceguard and Sadolin Classic are recommended by the
    manufacturers as being suitable products. Cuprinol TimberCare (for use on rough sawn timber) is also safe to birds when dry.

    Ideally fasten the box close to the eaves of the house, as in the picture on
    the right. This would be the birds' natural choice of location. Try and use
    a direction between north and east to avoid strong sunlight. This box was
    fixed on 12th January. It was not used by house sparrows, but great tits
    decided to nest in the centre section!

    | Sparrow terrace - the cutting plan | | How to build a blue tit nest box |
    | Installing a miniature camera inside a nest box - View the images on your TV |
    | Feed the Birds - seasonal feeding tips |

    Durham City Arts had an innovative public art project called -


    'The Best Bird Boxes in Britain: A City in the Sky' - See below

    Click on the pictures for an enlarged view

    https://www.beautifulbritain.co.uk/htm/wildlife_gardening/sparrow_terrace.htm 1/2
    1/14/2021 How to build a bird box for house sparrows

    Photographs by John Kelly - used with permission

    The Best Bird Boxes in Britain: A City in the Sky

    https://www.beautifulbritain.co.uk/htm/wildlife_gardening/sparrow_terrace.htm 2/2

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