Daily gardening tip · Northern hemisphere · Tuesday 20 October 2026 · mid autumn
Clean Bird Boxes for Autumn Shelter
Clearing out old bird nesting boxes today gives small birds a dry, warm place to roost during cold autumn nights.
20 minuteseasywildlife
Take down the bird box from its wall, tree, or fence.
Open the box and remove any old nest material, debris, and unhatched eggs.
Scrape out remaining dirt and pour boiling water inside to kill parasites.
Let the box dry completely in the open air.
Rehang the box firmly in its original position before evening.
Why it works
Birds do not just use nest boxes for raising chicks in spring; they also use them during autumn and winter as roosts to escape freezing temperatures. Removing old, damp nest material gets rid of lingering fleas and parasites while creating clean space for several birds to huddle together for warmth.
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