Homes for birds
Natural places for birds to nest, like holes in trees, are getting increasingly hard to find, especially in urban areas.
This activity is about building a home for birds and giving them a place to stay in your school grounds.
Are you doing this activity as part of your Wild Challenge? Take a look at your progress and go for gold!
This activity supports the following subjects: Science, Design and Technology.
What do I need?
- Wood
- Nails
- Measuring tools
- Hammer
- Our guide to making a nest box
- Or you could buy a nest box. The RSPB shop has a wide range.
What do I do?
- You could make a nest box, using our how-to guides below.
- You could even buy a nest box and simply put it up.
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Put your nest box in a suitable site. Work with the children to decide on the best location. The nest box should be about 2.5-5m off the ground. It’s best to angle it forward slightly so that rain can’t fall into it. Once the box is up do not disturb it, watch from a distance and see if you get any visitors!
- Don't forget to tell us when you have completed the activity! When you mark the activity as complete, you will be asked to upload a photo or a piece of writing talking about your experience to help earn your award.
Completing the activity
Use the 'Mark as complete' button at the top of this page to tell us you've completed your activity. You'll need to show us what you did by uploading a photo of your brand new nest box in the place you’ve chosen to hang it. Tell us about any birds you’ve seen using it!
Get them thinking
Here are some prompts to help with learning:
- What do you need to consider about the materials you use?
- How can you try to ensure the birds will thrive in their new home?
Completed an activity? Share your picture
To share use #wildchallenge
