Nesting boxes

Microbat

This box is suitable for several species of the smaller microbat (not for its larger cousins – the fruit bat or flying fox).

You are most likely to see these Microbats out and about on a warm night, hunting for insects in your local neighbourhood. They use echolocation (a type of sonar) to locate their prey. To attract Microbats to your garden, consider planting indigenous plants that attract insects. A few plants to consider include members of Callistemon, Hakea, Eucalyptus, and Acacia

Designed to avoid the build up of scats (guano).

Inside of the box has grooves which the Microbats will use like a ladder.

Should be placed in a semi-open area.

Put a Microbat box near your backyard ponds to help control mosquitos!

Assembled $65

Flatpack $53

Brushtail Possum

Brushtail Possums are highly territorial and will generally live a solitary life, except when they come together to mate.

If possums are a problem in your garden, consider locating roses and fruit trees away from large trees and fences (possum access points) and planting a range of indigenous plants to provide an alternative food choice. Remove access branches to stop possums getting into your roof. To ethically remove possums, contact a fee-for-service possum remover.

If possible, place the box in a tree close to other trees and shrubs.

The nesting box does not need to be cleaned out as Brushtail Possums keep their nest clean and tidy.

Due to the insulating qualities of the wood, the box will be cool in summer and warm in winter.

The entrance hole may seem small, but this does not prevent entry by possums and helps to deter predators. Brushtail Possums are used to squeezing into small spaces!

Our possum boxes are made without grooves. Possum claws are strong enough to cling to the plywood surface, and the boxes are not deep enough to require a ladder.

Assembled $77

Flatpack $66

Ringtail Possum

Ringtail Possums nest in small family groups. They feed on the flowers, foliage and fruit of many plants and are extremely adaptable.

Unlike the larger Brushtail Possum, Ringtail Possums rarely enter the roofs of buildings. But they are known to quite happily nest in garage roller doors or dense climbing vegetation adjacent to a house.

If possible, place the box in a tree close to other trees and shrubs.

The nesting box does not need to be cleaned out as Ringtail Possums keep their nest clean and tidy.

The size of this entrance hole will allow Ringtail Possums access, but exclude large Brushtail possums.

Our possum boxes are made without grooves. Possum claws are strong enough to cling to the plywood surface, and the boxes are not deep enough to require a ladder.

Assembled $66

Flatpack $58

Sugar Glider

Sugar Gliders are small possums that occur in densely wooded suburbs, parks and reserves around Melbourne. They have webbing between their front and back paws that allow them to glide between trees – flights over 50m have been recorded! They feed on insects, nectar and tree sap and have been known to prey on juvenile birds.

To attract Sugar Gliders to your garden, consider planting members of Acacia and Eucalyptus which provide shelter and food in the form of nectar and sap.

Position the box in an evergreen tree close to dense foliage and close to other trees and shrubs. Sugar Gliders do not like to be exposed for long periods of time.

The nesting box does not need to be cleaned out as Sugar Gliders keep their nest clean and tidy.

Assembled $74

Flatpack $62

Feathertail Glider

Feathertail Gliders are small, gliding possums that can glide between trees and over open spaces. These gliders tend to live in the outer suburbs of Melbourne where there is good tree cover and a dense understory. They eat a range of foods including insects, nectar from flowers and tree sap.

To attract Feathertail Gliders to your garden, consider planting a range of indigenous plants that flower at different times of the year. The flowers will provide nectar and attract insects for the gliders to eat. Wattle trees provide a good source of food during the winter months.

Position the box in an evergreen tree close to dense foliage and close to other trees and shrubs. Feathertail Gliders do not like to be exposed for long periods of time.

The nesting box does not need to be cleaned out as Feathertail Gliders keep their nest clean and tidy

Assembled $59

Flatpack $50

Phascogale, Antechinus, Squirrel Glider

These three mammals all have similar nesting requirements so this box will suit multiple species.

Phascogales are a little-known native marsupial. They feed on insects, centipedes and the nectar of box and ironbark eucalypts. To attract Phascogales, consider planting box, ironbark and/or stringybark eucalypts. The also require a dense layer of fallen logs, bark and leaves to hunt their prey.

Antechinus are a shrew-like carnivorous marsupial that live in trees and feed on invertebrates including spiders, beetles, worms and grubs. To attract Antechinus, consider planting insect attracting plants including Callistemon, Hakea and Acacias.

Squirrel Gliders are little known and rarely seen possums. They have webbing between their front and back paws which allow them to glide between trees. To attract Squirrel Gliders consider planting indigenous plants that flower at different times of the year. The flowers will provide nectar and attract insects for them to eat.

Position the box in an evergreen tree close to dense foliage and close to other trees and shrubs. These mammals do not like to be exposed for long periods of time.

The nesting box does not need to be cleaned. These mammals defecate in their box, but it is perfectly normal and should be left like that.

Assembled $69

Flatpack $60

Pardalote

Pardalotes are small insectivorous birds that breed in long tunnels dug into the earth or in tree hollows.

Pardalotes feed primarily on insects such as thrips, moths, caterpillars, small beetles, spiders and especially lerps, a kind a sap sucking invertebrate. To attract these beautiful birds to your garden, plant a variety of native plants that attract insects, including Acacia, Hakea, Callistemon and Eucalyptus, and allow a decent leaf litter to build up – providing habitat for invertebrates. Small birds love dense and/or spiky shrubs in which they can hide from predators, so consider planting some around your garden.

Included is a bag of potting mix that should be emptied into the bottom of the nest box. Pardalotes build their nests in soil, so it is important to keep the nesting box topped up with material.

Place the box high enough to keep it out of reach of cats

Assembled $60

Flatpack $48

Lorikeet, Rosella and Large Parrot

Lorikeets, Rosellas, other small parrots like the Red-rumped Parrot and large parrots such as Cockatoos, Galahs and King Parrots are dependent on tree hollows for breeding. With natural hollows quickly disappearing due to the pressures of urban development, nesting boxes are a great way to protect these native birds.

To attract small parrots to your garden, consider planting plants that produce high amounts of pollen and nectar, especially eucalyptus trees. Parrots are known to follow the flowering seasons of various species – so providing a range of plants that flower in different seasons will encourage them to stick around. Also consider planting native grasses, as some parrot species will feed on the grass seeds.

Parrots are communal and travel in flocks of up to 30 birds. By putting in a number of nesting boxes you can help more than one breeding pair.

The box includes an exotic bird excluder, or baffle,  which prevents invasive species such as Indian Mynahs and Starlings from occupying the box. Native parrots will chew through the excluder to access the box.

Included is a bag of potting mix that should be emptied into the bottom of the nest box. This allows the nest   box to better mimic their natural nesting sites in rotting wood.

A parrot nest box should only need to be cleaned out if a feral species has nested in it. Feral species will fill the box with twigs, feathers and bright coloured rubbish that will   discourage parrots from using the box.

Parrots keep their nest clean and tidy; so there is no need to add or change nesting material once the box is installed.

Place the box high enough to keep it out of reach of cats.

The boxes should be exposed to morning sun to help warm it after cold spring nights.

Lorikeet
(top photo)
Assembled $62

Flatpack $57

Rosella
(bottom photo)
Assembled $70

Flatpack $61

Large Parrot
(bottom photo)
Assembled $89

Flatpack $78

Duck

Ducks have lived in and around our waterways for centuries; thriving even in urban areas. Whilst some ducks nest on the ground, others are dependent on tree hollows to protect their young from predators. Our nesting box meets the requirements of a number of duck species, including Wood Ducks, Black Ducks, Chestnut Teals, Grey Teals and even Pink-eared Ducks.

It is quite difficult to attract ducks to your garden unless you have a large body of water that has aquatic plants growing in it. They prefer to feed on young green grass or herbs, aquatic seed and herbaceous aquatic plants

All ducks have different   preferences when it comes to the height of the nesting box or hollow. If you are trying to target a specific species then you may need to find out what is  the optimum height for that species.

Ducks defecate over the edge of the nest opening. So place  your box where there is no human traffic underneath!

A duck nesting box is designed not to attract bees or non-native birds, even if it is vacant. Ducks will evict any unwanted animals from their nest, so they’ll do the policing for you.

Place the box in a tree close to other trees or shrubs.

Ducks will sit on the nest box perch while it is being used for breeding.

Ducks will only use the box during their breeding season (spring).

Assembled $95

Flatpack $82

Kookaburra

The Kookaburra box meets the requirements of two species of kookaburra,  the Laughing Kookaburra and the Blue-winged Kookaburra. These large, loud and cheeky birds add life to any area.

To attract kookaburras to your garden, consider managing your garden for other wildlife. A frog bog or lizard lounge will attract larger prey items such as frogs and lizards. Also consider planting indigenous plants that attract insects, such as Callistemon, Hakea, Eucalyptus, and Acacia.

It is best to place the box in a semi-open position, preferably on an evergreen tree close to other shrubs and trees

Kookaburras will sit on the perch while using the box for breeding.

A Kookaburra nest box does not need to be cleaned out. Young Kookaburras defecate over the edge of the nest opening. So place your box where there is no human traffic underneath!

Kookaburras will evict any unwanted animals out of their nest (including European Bees)

Do not approach occupied boxes and avoid any major disturbances

Kookaburras will only use the box during breeding, from September to January.

Assembled $91

Flatpack $78

Owl

Owls travel at night, using their incredible night vision to spot and catch prey such as small mammals, rodents, lizards and invertebrates. Being high on the food chain, owls often have very large home ranges and can travel far in a single night. Several species of owl might use this box, including the Southern Boobook owl, Barn Owl and Owlet Nightjar.

To attract owls to your garden, consider planting a range of native plants that attract other animals, such as rodents and possums. Managing your garden for habitat, by creating a frog bog and/or lizard lounge and allowing a complex litter layer to build up, will attract a wider suite of animals and provide a better pantry for owls.

Owl boxes are best placed as high as possible in the tree. This may mean that you need to engage the services of a properly trained person to install your owl box.

Owls will typically add chips or bark or leaves to their nest, so for this reason so provide you with a bag of potting mix. the owls will add other materials as necessary.

Assembled $112

Flatpack $97

Bug Pad

Unlike their introduced cousins the European Honeybee, most native bee species do not live in a large colony and many of them are stingless. There are around 2000 species of native bees in Australia which play a very important role in pollination of native plantspecies.

To attract bees to your garden, plant a range of flowering species that are indigenous to the local area. Try to choose species with a variety of flower colours and plants that will be flowering at different times of the year.

This box has lots of small spaces for native bees and other insects to make a home

Unlike our other boxes, bug pads can be put pretty much anywhere; even an apartment balcony!

Assembled $42

Flatpack $37