Where do I position my bird house

Damhah

Hello, I have a couple birdhouses and I do not know where to position them, also do I need to fill the bird houses with anything.

My garden is South facing.

Damhah

Singing Gardener

I think the usual advice is to put the on a north facing wall so they don't get overheated by the sun. Mine face NE and are used regularly.

You don't need to put anything inside. The birds will do that! You should clean them out each autumn though.

Dovefromabove

I agree with @Singing Gardener ... also allow for a clear flight path for the birds to access the nest box and for bluetits it should be at 5 -6 ft from the ground. 

wild edges

Remove the peg on the front as it allows predator birds easier access but isn't needed for small birds. I'd sand the entrance hole too as it's a bit rough. A handful of wood shavings in the base makes it easier to clean in the winter and keeps the base dry.

purplerallim

The only other thing I would mention is the usual wind direction,  try not to have the entrance into the wind.

Joy*

And please don't put them where cats could get a paw in. Cats are excellent climbers and will take the baby birds if they can get access. Think fences and trees. 

mrsteveearsom

It’s still important to use baffles or predator guards around the birdhouse during winter. It is the season of the year when birds like to flock together to use their collective body heat. If a predator gets into the birdhouse, a lot of birds may die. I find it useful to place the birdhouse somewhere predators can’t easily reach it. I place it high from the ground but impossible for climbing predators to reach.

Woodgreen

wild edges said:

A handful of wood shavings in the base makes it easier to clean in the winter and keeps the base dry.

This is a good tip @Wildedges, as the base can get a bit messy.

I used to read that a wisp of straw put into a new box would somehow give the birds the right idea, but personally I don't think they need encouraging if the house is right, they know what to do!

Balgay.Hill

I have mine in the coolest part of the garden, facing away from the prevailing wind.
I tie on the guns that shoot the murdering cats at various points facing away from the bird house.

Gwenr

Our sparrow boxes are all up on the side of the bungalow facing East and our garden is South facing, so they do get a bit of sun and we live in the South East where temperatures have been getting warmer each year, but every compartment is filled every year and we've had hundreds of fledglings. The birds will use their own nesting, but don't be disappointed if they don't use the box, our neighbour has had two up on her fence for years and they have never been used. We are surrounded by cats and they are thugs at stealing chicks and birds of a night when the birds are roosting, so be aware, if the box is easy access for a cat to get to, they will, the higher the better. Male birds also have a habit off building more than one nest, then offer the female the chance to decide which one she prefers, so although they may build a nest in your box, she may decide she prefers the one three gardens away, or she may decide yours is perfect. The best advice is pretend your a bird, where would you feel the safest away from predators, cats, Magpies etc and put it there. Also don't be surprised if the bees decide to use it, it's quite common for a queen bee to take a liking to nest box and get in there first, which would be quite an honour for you.