Bird Box Building

The icy conditions made getting onto the reserve an adventure unto itself, and after a couple of cars got stuck by the lay-by the access route quickly turned into an impromptu car park.

After a quick call to the Guard Room to ask all new visitors to be parked on the parade square it was decided that the cars were best left where they were until after today's event.

Once “parked” everyone made their way to the Field Center for a much needed hot beverage before once again braving the cold on a guided walk of the reserve.

After consulting the nest box map we made a quick stop to talk about coppicing and pollarding of Willow Carr, and the benefits of such management practices for wildlife.

We stopped by a number of nest boxes; all with interesting histories, from successive successful broods of Blue Tit and Coal Tit, to others taken over by Wasps and Bumblebees.

Next on our shortened loop of the Yellow route was Risedale Beck where we had a look at the Dipper nest boxes under the bridges and a chat about where we were going to put all of our soon to be built nest boxes. 

After a quick stop off at the Heath to decide where to place our brand new Kestrel box, the party headed back to the Field Centre to begin assembling their own bird boxes. 

Aside from the short interval needed to move the cars from our make-shift car park, the room was filled with the noise of industry; and before long 12 well assembled nest boxes were ready to take away in the hope that they provide a home for many broods to come.