You make or buy a booth, hang it up and then just wait for someone to move in. It’s nice to have an overview and not just for the sake of observation. At the same time, you know what to prepare for when cleaning. Each family provides a different amount of litter to the young. And surprisingly, it almost does not depend on the size of the birds. Sometimes it’s the little ones who leave a real mess in the booth.
You can listen to the podcast consultation here:
You are relieved to have everything done in the garden. But as you look up from the lawn, you are taken aback. But no. Still clean the booths. Couldn’t it be left out? “It depends a little on who lived with you this year,” says Jana Bucharová, an expert on garden topics from Receptář magazine, in the podcast.
Maintenance required
It is true that no one cleans cavities in nature, but naturally new ones are created all the time and so birds usually do not return to nest in the same place. On the contrary, they will be happy to return to the box, and if you hang different types of boxes in the garden, you will also see different types of birds.
However, they need to be checked every year, or at least once every two years, possibly repaired and definitely cleaned. When the box is too crowded, it is not only easier for parasites to overwinter in it. In the next season, the predator will also have better access to the higher bedding for the birds. And nobody wants to pick up dead birds on the lawn.
Clean in the fall
Sometimes it doesn’t have to be a big problem, because birds that have only tiny fillings will take up residence in the box. “For example, blue tit leaves only a small cake,” says Jana Bucharová. So when it’s really cold, even worms and mites won’t be a problem.
Nevertheless, it is better to clean before winter. On the one hand, you can’t rely on frost, and in addition, birds sometimes use the boxes outside of the nesting period. “They can spend the night in them and then they will definitely appreciate the space,” adds the expert.
Watch out for them
So who makes the biggest mess in the booth? Field sparrows clearly lead the way. “They put something in the booth and easily fill it more than half,” confirms the expert. So the phrase sparrow’s nest is really more than justified. But it is similar to the common tit or the starling. On the contrary, for example, rorys do not litter their young surprisingly enough.
But you can never count on the fact that someone else will not move into the house after the birds. Most often, those who perfectly surround the round hole from the inside with their own nest. So even if cleaning is a bit of a pain, it’s better to devote a few minutes to it in autumn.
