Bird nest boxes

If you are looking for a camera bird box that doesn't cost a fortune, your search is over. Garden Safari was the first company in the UK to develop low cost bird boxes that plug into your PC, and we're still leading the way. We now offer bird nest boxes with a range of camera options to suit both your location and your budget.

All Garden Safari boxes are handmade from solid wood, sourced from sustainable FSC-certified woodlands. We don't use cheap plywood or reclaimed timber. Some species of birds can be sensitive to the chemical used in paints and stains, so we don't use any at all on out rtimber - it is completely untreated. We also leave it deliberately roughened, the way a natural nest is. The rough timber helps chicks climb out and parents hold on to the outside. Our wood is also thick - at least 15mm. This helps to insulate our nests so they remain naturally warm in winter and naturally cool in summer.

Our standard nest box meets RSPB and BTO guidelines with one exception - we don't use metal hole protectors. These are recommended to stop squirrels widening the entrance hole so that they can use the box as a drey. But some bird species (like woodpeckers!) also widen the hole, so we prefer to leave it as nature intended. Our boxes come with a 32mm hole to suit larger birds like sparrows and GreatTits, but we also provide an additional front panel with a 25mm hole so you can change your box to suit smaller species like bluetits. The roof is removable so the box can be cleaned out at the end of the season** (only after the birds have gone, please!) and the box has a drain hole in the floor.

New for 2009! Robins and Wrens prefer an open-fronted box robin80x120 so now all our boxes are made with this as the third option at no extra cost...to save you having to choose! The Robin box is best sited lower down, deep inside a hedge or the branches of a tree - but again, avoid places near fences where cats and other predators can get access. Because our camers can see in complete darkness, you can mount your robin box deep inside a bush or tree - conifers are good for this - so that the birds feel really safe.

Your nest box is best sited on a wall or the trunk of a tree, preferably facing south but slightly shaded. Check when choosing the location that the box can't be easily reached by cats and other predators.Avoid putting boxes too close to bird tables - you wouldn't like living next to a 24-hour restaurant, and neither do birds. If mounting the box in a tree, use stainless steel screws or better yet strips of old tyre ( a neat way of recycling them) and keep the flight lines to the box clear of obstructions. Boxes can be put up at any time of the year - when not in use as nests they may be used as roosts - but birds will start to look seriosu for somewhere to nest around February - the date changes with the weather.

Quality boxes at a budget price

Whatever option you choose, all of our boxes come equipped with colour cameras that have infrared night vision - they can see in complete darkness. When there is enough light, the picture is colour, automatically switching to infrared when it gets dark. (Like all night-vision cameras, the infrared picture looks black-and-white on your TV / PC) The Infrared light is completely invisible to birds,bats and insects and does them no harm whatsoever, allowing you fascinating glimpses into the secret life of your garden.

Camera options for bird nest boxes

We offer three basic choices of camera for our nest boxes:

USB cameras - These plug into the USB port of any PC. The camera comes with a 30 foot (10 metre) cable as standard and we can extend this up to 75 feet if you choose our extended cable option at the time you place order (note: we cannot add it afterwards because we seal all the joints to keep them weatherproof). The cable carries both the video picture and the power. Students and researchers - looking for a truly portable solution? With our USB nestbox and extended USB cable option + weatherproof box option you can stick the box almost anywhere! Go miles into the woods, to the top of the cliff or across the stream, open the weatherproof connector box and plug the USB connector into your laptop. As long as your batteries are reasonably fresh, the laptop will power the camera and you'll see what is going on in the nest from up to 25 metres away. No need to disturb the birds or risk life and limb.
Wireless Cameras that plug into your TV/ Video - These use wireless technology to beam the video picture back to your TV or DVR/VCR, so you can watch and/or record the action in the box from your living room. Note, however, that the wireless cameras do eat batteries, so we have supplied a mains adaptor to provide power to the camera.We also include a 10 metre power connecting lead and a weatherproof connection box, allowing you to house the battery or connect to the mains adaptor.
Wired Cameras that plug into your TV/ Video - These bring the video signal along cables to your TV or VCR/DVR. The cable carries both the video picture and the power.
Want to know more? See our guide to our cameras or read our FAQ pages

Bird nest box with 1.3 Megapixel* INRARED USB camera supports night vision. Comes with 10 metre (30 foot) cable as standard	£69	In Stock
Bird nest box with 5 Megapixel* USB camera Daylight only viewing. Comes with 10 metre (30 foot) cable as standard	£69	In Stock
Up to 75foot (25Metre) cable extender for USB nest box	£45	Built to order
weatherproof housing for USB cable connector	£8	Built to order
Bird nest Box with wireless TV camera Comes with mains adaptor for receiver, plus battery adaptor, mains adaptor and 10 metre (30 foot) power lead for camera as standard	£95	In Stock
Additional 10 metre (30 foot) Power cable extender for wireless TV camera	£12	Built to order
Bird nest box with wired TV camera Comes with 10 metre (30 foot) cable as standard	£75	In Stock
Additional 10 metre (30 foot) cable for wired TV camera	£19	Built to order

All prices include VAT but exclude post and packaging which will be added to your order at checkout before you complete your purchase.
All stock levels are approximate and subject to change. If delivery time is crucual please email us first.

** It is illegal under UK law to disturb nesting birds. You can clean your nest box out at the end of the season after all the fledglings have gone.You cannot keep any eggs you find, unhatched or not.
*All camera resolutions are interpolated values. Our cameras will work with most PCs, but for full specifications of PC needed to run them, see our guide. Our cameras do not work well when plugged into unpowered USB hubs and we recommend that they are always plugged directly into a USB port of the host PC. Laptops running infrared USB cameras will need good batteries becasue they supply the camera power. Unfortunately our USB cameras are not compatible with Apple MACs yet - sorry.