Bought a sparrow box for £8 at a local fun day. Now find the only place I can site it is near an existing box that the blue tits nest in and its on a shed. Will this be suitable anyone know? Its safe from predators but as its quite near the other box, within a couple of feet, I wondered if its okay? Also its not up high...I thought sparrows liked to nest under the eaves and its only as high as the shed is. I do hope it'll be okay.
You'll probably find sparrows move into the tit box if the hole is big enough. I don't know whether blue tits will tolerate nesting near sparrows.
My understanding is that sparras are social birds. In fact, I'm sure I've seen semi-detached nestboxes for sparras. So placing the new box nearby will be fine.
Quote from: dotCompost on August 22, 2005, 19:05:50
My understanding is that sparras are social birds. In fact, I'm sure I've seen semi-detached nestboxes for sparras. So placing the new box nearby will be fine.
Sparrow boxes tend to come as terraces or flats.
Ours has a Maisonette. :P They each have their own front door. ;)
I believe the sparrows and tits will get on well together. Because after all, when they nest, they will be so very busy hunting food for the little ones they won't have the time to check on each other. ;D :D
Good luck with the Sparrow Terrace box. Mine has been up 3 years now and had one family in there the first year with nothing since. The box is N.W. facing high up under the eaves, definately a desirable residence!!! My blue tit box is just round the corner on another wall facing the same direction, but still quite close.
Thanks everyone, it does have 3 seperate compartments a bit like terrace houses, I'm going to go for it then, it was the height and the near neighbours that worried me.
Hi Val,
I don't know about sparrow boxes but over here they nest under our rooftiles some 6 mtr high....
The standard advice seems to be that birds don't like nestboxes to close to feeders or other nestboxes, but why not give it a try...
William
;D ;DHi Wills how are you? Its so good to hear from you. I've put the box up...well Frank has so we'll know next year.