Establish redstart in the garden

Redtails are divided into two types. On the one hand there is the common redstart, which belongs to the niche breeders, on the other hand the black redstart, which is content with a half-cave as a breeding ground. If you want to do justice to both species, it is best to offer different nesting aids.

Nest box for redstart - that's how it should be

• When buying, make sure that the nest box is suitable for redstart. The entrance hole should not be round like other bird species, but square and wider. You can also build a nest box for redstart yourself.
• The boards for the nest box should be about 2 inches thick. The ideal minimum size of the box is 11 x 14 centimeters.
• The roof has to be much bigger because the box has to be in the shade all day. Redstart do not like direct sunlight. The board for the roof should therefore be at least 27 x 35 centimeters and be attached at a slight forward angle.
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• Make sure that the boards are slightly roughened so that it is easier for the young birds to get in and out.


Cleaning nest boxes - this is what you should pay attention to

Nest boxes hang in many German gardens. They are supposed to help birds find their ...

• Never paint nesting boxes on the inside, only treat the outside surfaces with a little linseed oil.
• Instead of a nesting box, you can simply attach roughened boards under eaves or between rafters for redstart.

The ideal breeding place for redstart

• Do not place the nest box in a place where it is exposed to the blazing sun!
• Redstart do not like direct sunlight, which is why it is best to orient the incubator for this bird species with the entrance hole facing north.
• While other nesting boxes have to be in place by March, wait until the end of April to install the boxes for redstart. The redstart does not return to our latitudes until late, so that by then most of the existing incubators are already occupied. If you hang up the boxes later, the birds will find enough nesting opportunities.
• Protect the nest box from predators such as magpies, jays, crows and martens by doing without a perch at the entrance hole. To protect against Cats it is best to attach a cat repellent belt.
• In the autumn, remove the old nest and dispose of it in the household waste. The nest box is best disinfected by burning it out. The easiest way to do this is to use a sheet of crumpled newspaper that is burned inside. If you have a soldering iron, use it to burn it out.

Hang up several different types of nesting sites in your garden so that the redstart can choose the most suitable one. Vary between niche and half-cave boxes, simple boards attached under the roof and, to offer something to the eye, decorative nesting aids from the trade, for example in the form of a Teapot.