Entrance Hole Guard for Nestboxes

[wroughtiron]

I thought I would post this pic of a nestbox equipped with an entrance hole guard. I use these on all my nestboxes for birds that use an entrance hole of 1.5" or smaller. I strongly recommend these as they do protect bird eggs, baby birds and adult birds from any 4 legged varmit and from birds such as blue jays, grackles, crows, etc. I am interested to know if anyone is using these guards and if so, are you having success with them?

[helenol]

As I mentioned in the gallery, this is a really good idea.

I don't know whether they are sold this side of the pond?

[Johnny1]

I've never seen anything like that over here in England, I'm not sure if they'd be any protection from woodpeckers tho, as these usually hack through the sides if the entrance is protected.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

I posted a message about this here, this morning:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=17342

and said this:

Did the birds still use the box with this guard in place? Last year a great spotted woodpecker took three of the five bluetit chicks in one of our boxes. I bought a couple of these nest guards this year - but they looked so big that I wondered if the birds would go into the box. In fact I had left it too late anyway, because the birds were already inspecting the boxes - I'm sure if a guard had been attached at this stage, it would have scared them off. I still have to decide whether to put them on now, ready for next year!

Has anyone else tried these guards - and if so, what was the result?

Helen - they are sold by CJ WildBird Foods

Johnny1 - our nestbox holes are protected by metal plates, but the woodpecker reached inside to get to the chicks.

[david2004]

As Elizabeth said, they are sold by CJ Wildbird Foods. I bought one on their website, and will be attaching it soon. It's a great idea, and hope it will protect our Blue Tits from the GSW's, Crows, Magpies and our resident Squirrel.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

As Elizabeth said, they are sold by CJ Wildbird Foods. I bought one on their website, and will be attaching it soon. It's a great idea, and hope it will protect our Blue Tits from the GSW's, Crows, Magpies and our resident Squirrel.

Have you had a problem in the past? As far as I am aware, a box has only been predated once - but we have only had cameras in them both for three years, and in just one in 2001.

[wroughtiron]

Have you had a problem in the past? As far as I am aware, a box has only been predated once - but we have only had cameras in them both for three years, and in just one in 2001.

I have had no problems. If your concerned that a bird may not take the house with the guard on, you can watch the house til the bird accepts it, then take it down and install the guard. I would suggest that you have 3 tiny pilot holes pre-drilled and ready to go so you can take the house down and attach the guard quickly and put it back. Once they have accepted it, then your ok. If you notice that they wont fly into the house, then you may want to take it off and try it after you see them go in the house. Think about it like this, when birds nest in natural cavities in trees, they somtimes craw thru a crevice a foot deep just to get to the nest, so its not unnatural for birds to have to go thru a tunnel to get to the actual nest area and its much safer. I have attached some photos of the "hole guard" below.

[david2004]

thats good advice, thanks.

elizabeth - i cant really say. havent ever had cameras, but one nest was abandoned for some reason, and the squirrels and crows seemed to be around too often. the other blue tits, in the house martin box weren't predated, but something weird happened (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=22213)