Birds are picky when it comes to nesting opportunities. They attach great importance to the right location. The type of attachment also plays a certain role in the acceptance of birdhouses. There are various options to choose from.
What is the best way to attach a birdhouse?
To securely attach a bird house, you can use tree-friendly wire hangers, invisible brackets with nails or metal brackets on facades. It is important that the birdhouse hangs stably and does not pose a danger to the tree or the birds.
Tree-friendly fastening
A firm but flexible wire hanger is the ideal solution so that the nesting box hangs securely on the trunk and the bark is not damaged. Screw two screw eyelets into the back wall of the house. Larger boxes require four grommets on each corner. Thread a sufficiently long binding wire through the openings so that it can be placed around the tree trunk. A piece of garden hose (€16.00 on Amazon) serves as padding so that the weight of the wire does not cut into the wood.
Invisible bracket
Nails are a simple and invisible method that do not harm the tree. Its high regenerative capacity ensures that the nail is enclosed over time and the wound is closed. The material plays an important role and determines potential risks of infection. Iron nails are unsuitable as they develop rust. Therefore, use aluminum materials. They are softer, more durable and do not pose a danger to the wood.
How to do it right:
- Attach wooden strip to the back of the box
- this should be 15 centimeters longer than the nest box height
- Anchor protruding pieces to the substrate with safe nails
Free hanging
Birds do not colonize nesting aids that sway freely in the wind. Therefore, hanging it loosely on branches is unsuitable. If you don't have suitable trees in your garden, you can also consider house and garage walls. As long as these areas are not exposed to the blazing sun and offer the birds enough peace and protection from predators, there is nothing wrong with attaching them to facades.
Hang up nesting possibility
Mount at least two metal brackets to the back of the box. These are anchored in the masonry. Whether you need to insert special dowels into the substrate depends on the material. Wood screws are sufficient on wooden walls of garden sheds, while dowels are useful for plastered walls.
Tip
If you don't want to miss out on the free-swinging look, you can attach a swivel arm to the facade and attach the nesting box to it.
