[Rowan]

I got a snazzy birdhouse for christnmas in the shape of a caravan! where is a good place to site it so that a bird nests in it and its out of the way of my killer cat?

Thanks

[madcat]

High on a house wall works, 'cos the cats can't get there, unlike on a tree.  General rule is somewhere on the north/ northeast side so it doesn't get too hot for the chicks (yeh okay, difficult to imagine now!), with something for the parent birds to land in not too far away (bush, tree, hedge) so they can stop and check out the situation in cover b4 heading in.

[Trillium]

If you prefer to put it on its own post, then make a cat deterrent (baffle) with a semi-circle of light sheet metal that you fasten like an upside down horn a foot or two below the birdhouse. No animal can navigate its way from under the metal nor can it get its claws into the metal to work its way up the post. I do that for dratted squirrels trying for my bird feeders. You can also make something similar from a sheet of flexible poly.

Here are a few examples:

http://www.wildbirdhabitatstore.com/http-//www-wildbirdhabitatstore-com/13-squirrel-baffles/cat-152-html/cat_152.html

[Paul Plots]

My son made a very solid posh job of a bird nesting box for me as a Christmas present.... it was very much appreciated as he is a working chippie these days - it was nice to have something he had spent time on and made himself.

I intend putting it on the plot to encourage a bit of the extra sort of wild-life I'd welcome (not pigeons!) .... which side of the shed is still a puzzle... south facing is the best place for me as it is the back high end of the shed but I guess it should go the other end over the door 

[madcat]

Compromise and go for the east side?

[Paul Plots]

Compromise and go for the east side?

I thought that too but it is just a row of windows.... Bird box on a stake, maybe?

Bigger things in life to worry about so I'll wait until I get it there and then have inspiration!! 

[sunshineband]

The most important thing is that the box/house should not be exposed to the worst of the weather or face full sun for most of the day 

[Paul Plots]

The most important thing is that the box/house should not be exposed to the worst of the weather or face full sun for most of the day 

Over the top of my shed door it is then.... mainly north facing and I checked today... it shold fit and leave clearance for the door to open and close 

I might need to wear a hat though 

[sunshineband]

I should have mentioned that it needs to be very secure or heavy birds like magpies can dislodge it 

But I expect you knew that  :happy:

[Paul Plots]

I should have mentioned that it needs to be very secure or heavy birds like magpies can dislodge it 

But I expect you knew that  :happy:

The construction is a proper job - marine-ply and hefty too. I will reinforce the shed's timber wall from the inside and take my big-rachet screw driver to the plot. Shed may blow away but the bird box should stay put.

Thanks for the reminder 

[sunshineband]

Wouldn't like you to grow an egg on your head, now 

[Paul Plots]

Wouldn't like you to grow an egg on your head, now 

It's going to have to go up as high as possible.... can't be doing with wearing a bird box!

And all eggs / nestlings / gappers and fledglings need to avoid my new allotment hat!

[sunshineband]

 

[ex-cavator]

Over the door will be OK - I'm guessing it's got a 'standard' size hole i.e. around 7/8-1", suitable for Blue Tits, etc? If so, they'll soon get used to the comings & goings. But make sure, if it's just under the gable end of the roof, passing cats can't sit directly above it and scare the birds off, even if not actually get to them. You might need to attach a couple of brackets to the eaves and stretch some wires across to foil any cats. A decent shrub or cover somewhere to the front of the box is useful - cover for the parents returning with food, also for the fledgelings when they first leave the nest.
I'm fortunate in that my new plot has a mature tree in the hedgerow across the end, so I'll put a box in that, but another idea might be, to build a box inside a shed, with a hole through the wall straight into it  

[Paul Plots]

Over the door will be OK ................................................................another idea might be, to build a box inside a shed, with a hole through the wall straight into it  

I like that idea & I'm sure my son would be able to construct a box for inside mounting... my only worry is that the temperature in the shed can get pretty high = poached eggs as well as air that is too dry