Get nest boxes ready for new occupants

Spring may officially be several weeks off, but now is the time to have bird nest boxes cleaned out and ready for new, incoming occupants. Many backyard sanctuary managers who use nest boxes leave them up year-round and leave nesting materials in them through the winter, when some birds will use them as nighttime roost sites.

But migrating birds that use cavities for nesting, like bluebirds, swallows and wrens, will be returning next month and they prefer clean quarters to follow their instincts to build their own nests.

All nest boxes attract insects - mites, lice, fleas, flies, hornets, spid...