Is there anything nicer than being woken up by singing birds on a spring morning? With a nesting box on the balcony you can enjoy the singing every day. Even though you live with the animals practically next door, balconies are actually very suitable for installation. To ensure that both humans and animals benefit, there are a few things to consider.
How do you make a nesting box on the balcony appealing to birds?
A nesting box on the balcony offers birds protection from predators and a breeding site at the desired height. Make sure there is sufficient protection from wind and rain, no direct sunlight, a clear flight path and no rocking of the box so that birds like to accept it.
Advantages of the balcony as a nesting box location
- the birds will soon lose their fear of humans
- Birds naturally prefer breeding sites at a certain height
- Balconies are inaccessible to predators such as cats and martens
Observe weather conditions
A covered balcony is also ideal as a location for a nesting box, as it offers sufficient protection from wind and rain. After all, who wants to move into a home where the wind whistles through the grooves? Make sure that it does not rain into the entrance hole even in strong winds. In addition, the nesting box should neither be completely in the shade nor exposed to the blazing sun. By the way, birds don't like nesting boxes that sway in the wind.
Protection and trust
With a nesting box on the balcony, the animals can get very close to you. Surprisingly, the birds become very trusting after a short time and also return home to feed when there is a lot of activity on the balcony. However, they will only build this trust if they have experienced that you will let them do what they want without any hassle. Make sure you have a clear flight path and place the nesting box (€26.00 on Amazon) in a stable position and at a sufficient height so that your children, for example, do not disturb the brood. Even if you are very curious about the newborn young birds, you should avoid constantly taking a look into the entrance hole.
Preventing neighborhood disputes
Multi-family homes in particular often have balconies. A nesting box can cause trouble because the guests naturally leave traces. Be careful not to let droppings or scattered bird seed fall into the garden below your home. Your neighbors will inevitably have to get used to the chirping.
