GB2548544B - Bird box - Google Patents

Description

Bird Box

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a bird box, and in particular to a bird box for sparrows.

Background

As natural habitats for wildlife are lost to residential housing, it is highly desirable to be able to accommodate wildlife in residential gardens. Birds can be accommodated by siting bird boxes in suitable locations mounted to a wall of a building, for example. A difficulty with this is providing a bird box which provides safety from predators while being appealing to the correct type of birds (in the present case sparrows).

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a bird box for sparrows, comprising one or more mesh walls having an inner mesh and an outer mesh for retaining straw between them. The appearance and texture of the straw has been found to be attractive to sparrows, and the limitation of straw as providing a poor defence against larger birds is mitigated by the inner and outer meshes.

While the bird box may be provided within straw disposed between the meshes, with the straw being added at a time of installation, preferably the bird box is provided with straw already disposed between the inner mesh and outer mesh.

In one embodiment, a front wall of the bird box is a mesh wall while the side walls are solid. In this case, each side wall adjacent to the front wall may comprise a first channel and a second channel, the inner mesh being located within the first channel of both side walls and the outer mesh being located within the second channel of both side walls. Preferably, the inner mesh and/or outer mesh can be slid out of the channels when a roof of the bird box is removed.

In another embodiment, one or both side walls of the bird box are mesh wall, preferably in addition to the front wall.

Preferably, the bird box has a solid base and/or a solid roof.

Preferably, the mesh wall comprises an access opening dimensioned to permit access to a sparrow.

Preferably, the mesh comprises 16 gauge wire.

Preferably, the separation between the inner mesh and the outer mesh is between 10mm and 30mm, more preferably between 15mm and 20mm, and still more preferably is approximately 15mm.

Preferably, the inner mesh extends from the base of the box up towards but not reaching the roof of the box. Preferably, the inner mesh is folded over at its top edge towards the outer mesh. Preferably, the inner mesh and outer mesh are of different materials.

Preferably, one or more of the base, the roof and the non-mesh walls of the bird box are of accoya wood.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings where like parts are provided with corresponding reference numerals and in which:

Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram of a bird box in accordance with a first embodiment ofthe invention,

Figure 2 provides further schematic illustrations of the bird box of Figure 1,

Figure 3 provides a schematic diagram of a bird box in accordance with a second embodiment ofthe invention, and

Figure 4 provides a schematic diagram of a bird box in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figure 1, a bird box 10 comprises a solid roof 110, a solid base 120, a first solid side wall 130, a second solid side wall (not shown) to the opposite side of the bird box from the first solid side 130, a solid rear wall (not shown), and a mesh front wall 140. The solid walls, roof and base of the bird box 10 are preferably made of accoya wood for durability. The mesh front wall 140 comprises an outer mesh (visible) and an inner mesh (not visible in Figure 1) spaced away from the outer mesh. The outer mesh and the inner mesh may be of different materials. The outer mesh may be of a more aesthetically pleasing material, while the inner mesh may be merely functional (and less expensive). The inner mesh may be of a more pliable material than the outer mesh, permitting it to be bent into shape more easily, as will be described below. Between the inner mesh and the outer mesh can be provided straw, preferably barley straw. The mesh in this case is a 16 gauge metal wire mesh in a square pattern, but it will be appreciated that different wire thicknesses may be used, and that other mesh patterns (such as diamond or hexagonal) could be used. The thickness of the wire is preferably sufficient to prevent the mesh from deforming and falling out, either if the box is attacked by a predator, or when straw is being forced down between the inner mesh and the outer mesh.

An aperture 150 is provided within the mesh front wall 140 to permit entry and exit of sparrows, while excluding entry by larger birds or other creatures such as squirrels. A diameter of approximately 30 to 35mm (and more preferably 33mm) has been found to be appropriate. This can be achieved by cutting away some of the wire of the mesh. In the present example the aperture 150 need only be made in the outer mesh 144, towards the roof ofthe bird box, and in particular above the edge portion 146 of the inner mesh 142. The edge portion 146 provides a convenient place for the sparrow to stand while being able to look out of the aperture 150. The appearance of the straw from outside the bird box has been found to attract sparrows, who would otherwise be disinclined to use a solid wood box or a box of other solid materials. The texture and appearance of the straw inside the bird box has been found to encourage sparrows, and in particular house sparrows (passer domesticus) to remain in the bird box. In testing, the use of a bird box of this construction has been found to increase the number of nesting sparrows by an order of magnitude. It will be appreciated that, historically, house sparrows have made their homes in thatched roofs, and the present bird box construction mimics this to a certain degree. Larger birds, while able to reach through the outer mesh, will not reach the inside of the bird box as defined by the inner mesh, providing a degree of protection for the birds inside the box without requiring a solid barrier. In addition to the straw trapped within the mesh wall, further straw may be provided internally of the bird box, or the bird may bring in its own nesting material from outside.

Referring to Figure 2, front (2A), side (2B) and top down (2C) views of the bird box 10 of Figure 1 are shown. Figure 2B shows both an inner mesh 142 and an outer mesh 144, which are spaced apart, with straw 145 being provided in the cavity between them, and trapped in place between the inner mesh 142 and the outer mesh 144. The separation between the inner mesh and the outer mesh is approximately 15mm in the present case, but generally a separation of between 10mm and 30mm is likely to be acceptable, and 15mm to 20mm more preferable, although the invention is not limited to this. The size of the mesh pattern (the size of the squares ofthe mesh in this case) is such that the straw-like material generally does not escape. It can be seen that the outer mesh 144 extends from the base to the roof of the bird box, while the inner mesh 142 extends from the base towards the roof, but does not reach the roof. An upper edge 146 of the inner mesh 142 is folded over to trap the straw more securely between the inner mesh 142 and the outer mesh 144.

Figure 2C shows that the interior side of each of the side walls 130 has two slots or channels 132, 134 provided near the front of the bird box and intended to receive the mesh. In particular, the inner mesh 142 is received in the channels 132 of the side walls, while the outer mesh 144 is received in the channels 134 ofthe side walls. When constructing the bird box 10, while the roof 110 is off, the inner mesh 142 and the outer mesh 144 are slid into the channels 132 and 134 respectively, and then straw is pushed down between the inner mesh 142 and the outer mesh 144 until the cavity between the meshes 142, 144 is substantially filled with straw. The thickness (gauge) of the wire mesh is sufficient to remain rigid and not substantially deform when the straw is urged into the cavity. 16 gauge wire has been found to be sufficient. The straw can be forced between the meshes 142, 144 in any suitable manner, such as using a length of suitably dimensioned wood. Then, the roof 110 is fixed in place, trapping the meshes 142, 144.

Referring to Figure 3, a second embodiment of the invention in which a bird box 20 having three chambers 22, 24, 26 is provided. A single piece roof 210 and a single piece base 220 are provided. The chambers 22 and 26 each have an exterior side wall 230 and an interior side wall 235. The chamber 24 has two interior side walls 235. Each of the chambers 22, 24, 26 has a mesh front wall 240 constructed in the same manner as Figure 1. In this case, the meshes in the chambers are located in channels in either an exterior side wall 230 or an interior side wall 235. Each of the mesh front walls of Figure 3 are substantially as per the above description in relation to Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to Figure 4, a third embodiment of the invention in which a bird box 30 having mesh front and side walls is provided. In particular, a solid roof 310 and a solid base 320 are provided, along with a mesh front wall 340 and mesh side walls 330 (only one of which is visible in Figure 4, the other mesh side wall being at the opposite side of the bird box 30 from the mesh side wall 330). Each of the mesh side walls of the embodiment of Figure 3 are substantially as per the above description in relation to Figures 1 and 2.

Claims (18)

Claims

1. A bird box for sparrows, comprising one or more mesh walls having an inner mesh and an outer mesh for retaining straw between them.

2. A bird box according to claim 1, comprising straw disposed between the inner mesh and outer mesh.

3. A bird box according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a front wall of the bird box is a mesh wall.

4. A bird box according to claim 3, wherein each side wall adjacent to the front wall comprises a first channel and a second channel, the inner mesh being located within the first channel of both side walls and the outer mesh being located within the second channel of both side walls.

5. A bird box according to claim 4, wherein the side wall is one of an external side wall or a partition side wall to a further chamber within the bird box.

6. A bird box according to claim 4, wherein the inner mesh and/or outer mesh can be slid out of the channels when a roof of the bird box is removed.

7. A bird box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one or both side walls of the bird box are mesh wall.

8. A bird box according to any preceding claim, comprising a solid base.

9. A bird box according to any preceding claim, comprising a solid roof.

10. A bird box according to any preceding claim, wherein the mesh wall comprises an access opening dimensioned to permit access to a sparrow.

11. A bird box according to any preceding claim, wherein the mesh comprises 16 gauge wire.

12. A bird box according to any preceding claim, wherein the separation between the inner mesh and the outer mesh is between 10mm and 30mm.

13. A bird box according to claim 12, wherein the separation between the inner mesh and the outer mesh is between 15mm and 20mm.

14. A bird box according to claim 13, wherein the separation between the inner mesh and the outer mesh is approximately 15mm.

15. A bird box according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner mesh extends from the base of the box up towards but not reaching the roof of the box.

16. A bird box according to claim 15, wherein the inner mesh is folded over at its top edge towards the outer mesh.

17. A bird box according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner mesh and outer mesh are of different materials.

18. A bird box according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the base, the roof and the non-mesh walls of the bird box are of accoya wood.