Best place to position a bird box?

[VestasBoro]

I have had 2 bird boxes, with zero luck.

The first i put in a tree, got the ladder out and it went a good 10ft up, no branches nearby it looked exactly like the ones in the woods and the other i put on a fence about 6ft up. Both were quite small holes, no perches and both were commandeered by bees within a few weeks after seeing zero bird activity, yet i see them in and around my garden all the time.

I just shoved expanding foam in the hole and ran away from the black and yellow b***ds, then i went back a few hours later the thing had been abandoned and it went on next doors allotment fire. I give up.

 

[sadgit]

You might be surprised at what comes into your garden, depending on where you live of course. These wildlife cameras are worth a try. They're cheap as chips now (the photo above was taken with one) and although the image quality is poor at the lower level and the subject needs to be still, it's enough to identify it. The pine marten is an almost nightly visitor along with badgers , deer and foxes plus the odd wild boar - I even caught the neighbour.

Ah we already have 5 cameras and in Marton so no, deer, badger and defo no wild boar

 

[r00fie1]

Av put some galvanised wire on the box and carefully round the entrance - no sharp edges - an hope the squirrels leave it alone. Blummin things are a nuisance. Box is up - 2.5 meters up the tree, facing North East. No clutter or sun. Will keep all twitters informed if owt takes up residence