Press Releases - January/February 2007
Item 5

No. 2007/02/15
February 2007

The BTO needs nosy neighbours

Do you keep an eye on your neighbours? Feathered neighbours, that is. If you do then the British Trust for Ornithology wants to hear from you.

With spring just around the corner birds are beginning to stake their claim on desirable residences. Perhaps you are the proud owner of a new nest box, or have an old faithful box in your garden, and tenants are showing an interest in moving in? If so, why not take up the free Nest Box Challenge? Register your box on-line with the BTO and tell them how well the occupants fare over the next few weeks.

By taking part, you will be able to see how many other nest boxes have been registered in your area, and find out which birds are moving in. You can then compare your observations with those made across the rest of the UK. Are your birds early? Is yours the only pair of Starlings to have started nest building in the county, or even the country? You can help the BTO find out just how important nest boxes are for our garden birds. So go on: be a nosy neighbour and take up the challenge!

Dr Dave Leech, Head of the BTO’s Nest Record Scheme said, “Nest Box Challenge gives everybody the opportunity to become a conservationist. By putting up a nest box in your garden, you’re quite literally helping to keep birds off the street. By taking part in the Nest Box Challenge, you’ll be going one step further, collecting vital information about the numbers of birds that take advantage of our efforts to house them and about their breeding success.”

For more information on how to take part, and a wealth of information on nest boxes, visit www.bto.org

Spotted Flycatcher, George H Higginbotham/BTO

MORE>

Notes for Editors

1. Spotted Flycatcher Image when images are used please ensure that the photographer and the BTO are properly acknowledged. Spotted Flycatcher, George H Higginbotham/BTO
2. National Nest Box Week was launched on 14 February, traditionally the date that birds pair up prior to nesting. It is organised by BTO and sponsored by Jacobi Jayne.
3. BTO Nest Box Challenge. For the first time National Nest Box Week has a new twist. People are being asked to take up the Nest Box Challenge and register the nest boxes in their gardens. This is being run in conjunction with the BBC’s Breathing Places campaign - for further information on the Challenge visit www.bto.org
4. More than 60 species of birds have been recorded using nest boxes. Most commonly, Blue and Great Tits, House Sparrows and Starlings will use the typical round hole design, while Robins, Blackbirds and Spotted Flycatchers prefer open-fronted boxes.
5. Copies of the The BTO Nestbox Guide can be obtained for £7.99 (Plus £3.95 p&p) from The BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU. Telephone 01842 750050
6. People who register their nest boxes on the BTO web pages, as part of the Nest Box Challenge, will be asked to provide simple information about their gardens and nest boxes. Then, as the season progresses, each observer will be able to report on which species move in and whether their birds breed successfully. This will provide important information on whether boxes are more successful in different types of gardens, whether different species use nest boxes in different areas of the country, how much later nest building starts in the north of Britain than in the south etc.
7. Breathing Places aims to inspire millions of people to get involved with nature, through hands on participation. The campaign aims to build an ‘active’ community via a series of simple and high impact programme-led outreach activities. Everything from exploring and enjoying nature, to planting trees and putting up nest boxes, to transforming the places where you live (for people & wildlife). See www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces.
8. It is quite safe for the birds if you look into nest boxes, but care needs to be taken so please see the guidance notes on the BTO website.
9. Bird photographs are available. Contact for electronic versions. Please quote 2007/02/15
10. Bird Information. For lots of facts and figures about garden birds go to www.bto.org/birdfacts
11. The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.

For further information please contact:

Paul Stancliffe on 01842 750050 or e-mail: (during office hours)