Nesting boxes, perch on the front?

[Berlin Mike]

Our nesting boxes had no perch for the birds on the front. I have fitted fat round perches cut out of a branch which I imagined would be easy to grip for the small birds who use them.

My wife tells me they are too big and will allow larger predator birds to land and attack the boxes and their contents. We lost a boxful two years ago to a woodpecker.

Have I made a big mistake here?





The new tennants have been inspecting the premises this morning....

[Boosted LS1]

The bird will perch on the entrance hole, you don't need that perch imo. Sorry to hear about the woodpecker, a perch will certainly assist a large predator. (awaits fish joke).

[paintman]

Take the logs off.

Perches not required they'll quite happily use the rim of the hole - if you really really want to just use a very small thin piece of dowel. (Doesn't need to be as long as a pikestaff)

[Nightmare]

I’m afraid I agree. Definitely remove. If you have any squirrels around this will be a perfect egg take out for them like this. They’ll just sit on the log and nibble the hole bigger till they can get their head in.

[Berlin Mike]

We have squirrels but they haven’t yet had a go at the boxes. My wife has fed them so many walnuts that they’ll have their work cut out to make the holes big enough.

So it’s log off time and pins on instead.

Thanks, everyone!

[Boosted LS1]

I wouldn't even put a pin on, it'll only help predators. The residents don't need a perch.

[Nightmare]

Ha...yeah there is a walnut tree very near us. Our local squirrel is both spherical and prone to hiding walnuts absolutely everywhere and then forgetting about them. We currently have a new walnut tree trying to grow on the roof of our conservatory!