Autumn and winter is a good time to put up bird boxes ready for next year in your garden, as it gives time for the birds to find and become accustomed to the new box.

Where you site the box is important, for sparrows, tits, and starlings the box should be between 2 and 4 metres high, on a wall, tree or similar.

The best direction to face a bird box is between north and east, unless the box is shaded by buildings or trees. If it gets the full sun the box is in danger of overheating and potentially killing the young inside.

As important as the direction is a clear flight path, without any obstructions directly in front of the box.

If possible tilt the box forward slightly to protect the entrance from blown rain. Tits don't need a perch on the front of the box, they can fly directly to the hole without difficulty. A perch on the other hand could just be what a predator needs to attack the chicks inside.

If you wish to encourage wrens, robins or blackbirds on the other hand then you will need to site an oven fronted box low, under 2 metres, and well hidden in vegetation.

Sparrows are colony nesting so are happy to have other nests close by, purpose built sparrow boxes are made with this in mind and will have three or more compartments built into each box, with an individual entrance to each.

It is quite feasible to site a number of these boxes close together under the eaves, but keep a distance from house martin nests if they use your building. There should be plenty of room for both.

If you are fixing your bird box to a tree try not to use nails as there is the potential to damage the tree, instead use a nylon bolt or wire around the trunk with an old piece of hose pipe under the wire to protect the tree.

In most cases the tree will continue to grow so check the wire every 3 years and alter it if it looks like cutting in.

Sparrows and starlings will happily nest close to each other but that does not apply to all species, Robins for example are very territorial so if you wish to encourage more than one pair to nest in your garden boxes should be spread around.

It is important to put up the correct box if you wish to encourage a particular species, Tits will nest in a hole in a tree, so a box with a 30mm hole will look to them as an ideal front door.

On the other hand it is highly unlikely that any of the Tits will nest in an open box favoured by robins.

There are many suppliers of bird boxes, which are designed for particular species, a couple of links at the end of this document will take you to one site offering these.

Or a visit to your local garden centre or RSPB shop both will offer a range to choose from.

Sparrow numbers in the UK have plummeted dramatically, which is very sad for what was such a common bird, there are potentially many reasons for the decline but one that seems likely is a lack of nesting sites.

As buildings are improved they have less spaces in the roofs that the birds can access, so nesting sites are at a premium, your contribution with the siting of nest boxes could make a difference.