Birds have moved into our nesting boxes

Those who keep a close eye on our blog know that since last year we have been making and hanging up nesting boxes for birds. Part of the campaign was a workshop for kindergarten children, which we co-organized thanks to the valuable help of experienced ornithologists Malgorzata Bagiński and Urban Bagiński. We are happy to announce our nesting boxes were inhabited by birds! Being able to observe them is a source of great pleasure and satisfaction.

Nesting boxes - where did the idea come from?

Wooden furniture is our great passion, but in our activities we try to go beyond just manufacturing and sales. An important value for us is concern for the environment. These ideas gave birth to the idea for the action, which involves building and hanging up nesting boxes for birds. This is a real help for our winged friends. The boxes are used by birds for safe breeding, and are also a useful shelter in the non-breeding season. Birds take shelter in them at night and during intense winds and frosts. The boxes we produced were made from waste plywood, which we use in the production process of Moonwood furniture and Artfloors oak floors. Thus, we also succeeded in embodying the valuable idea of zero waste.

Workshops for preschoolers

We believe that nature education and the formation of conscious pro-environmental attitudes should start from an early age. After all, what youth is used to, age remembers. Recently, we had the pleasure of co-organizing another workshop at the Non-public Kindergarten "Smyki" in Bytow, where a nesting box was hung near the facility. Preschoolers are hungry for knowledge and turned out to be great listeners. It seems that the world of birds is fascinating to them and they are eager to explore its secrets. It is also not difficult to discover in the little ones layers of empathy and concern for nature. Working with such groups is really a great joy. The workshop is also an expression of our belief that corporate social responsibility should include organizing valuable initiatives for local communities.

Do our nesting boxes require cleaning?

Anyone who starts the adventure of helping birds should know that in autumn comes the time to clean the nesting boxes that were hung earlier. Is it necessary? By all means, yes. Regular cleaning of nesting boxes allows to remove excess material used by birds for nest building. In our nest boxes, we observed mainly moss, hair, feathers and plant parts. It may happen that there are dead chicks in the box or even an egg. Such situations are an unpleasant but integral part of the world of wild birds. Removal of such remains prevents the development of parasites that could prove dangerous to subsequent residents of the box. Excessive material in the nest box also makes it too tight, which poses the risk of chicks falling out of the nest, among other things.

When do we clean nesting boxes?

The best time to clean nesting boxes is late October and early November. Do not forget that the period when cleaning bird habitats is allowed is regulated by specific laws in Poland. According to the Ordinance of the Minister of Environment of September 28, 2004 on protected species of wild animals, bird nesting boxes can be interfered with between October 16 and the end of February. The rest of the year is a protection period, during which the boxes are treated as protected bird habitat. If the boxes are not cleaned in autumn, it is essential to do so in February before the start of the nesting season. This will make them a safe place to raise chicks for the next occupants.

How to clean a nesting box?

When proceeding to clean the interior of the nesting box, we should equip ourselves with protective rubber gloves as a precaution against contact with possible pathogens. The nesting material is conveniently raked out with a small-sized brush or rake. This can also be done with the hands. Small residues are easily removed with a damp microfiber cloth. A good solution is to treat the inside of the shed with spirit. Disinfection of the shed can also be done by tanning it after applying denatured alcohol. It is very important not to use any chemical cleaners when cleaning the box. They can discourage birds from settling in the box, as well as be harmful and dangerous to them.

Who inhabits our boxes?

Great tits are primarily seen in the boxes. This is the largest and most popular of the European tit species. The large population of great tits often faces a shortage of natural places to establish safe nests and provide optimal conditions for chicks. Very often they are found near human habitats. The nest boxes are a valuable support for great tits. In March, they mate in monogamous pairs and raise up to two nest and brood per season, with six to 14 chicks in each brood. Other birds that can be observed in the nesting boxes include marsh, willow and great tits, nuthatches and wrynecks.