Bird Nesting Boxes at Maitreya Pure Land

In 2016 we installed 20 bird nesting boxes throughout the gardens at Nalanda Monastery, and in early Spring 2024 the project will install around 40 at our dedicated retreat center; Maitreya Pure Land.

Our nesting boxes have been designed and built to attract the widest possible variety of small bird species, such as different species of tit, woodpecker, wagtail, thrush, finch and starling. All aspects of the original box design took place with the kind help of Ven. Tony from Institut Vajra Yogini, an FPMT center nearby Nalanda, who has a huge amount of knowledge on this subject. He advised on the designs of the boxes to cover the species that are common in this area, placement of the boxes and easy of cleaning in Winter. Protection from predators and the weather are two important considerations, as well as some solitude and cover. Even the diameter of the entrance holes of the boxes have been varied to help with a sensitivity some species have to the size of the entry to their home.

All the boxes are numbered for reference and are removable from the trees, and they all have a door in order for them to be cleaned each winter. This also gives the opportunity to see if any have been unoccupied, so their position or placement can be adjusted to hopefully promote occupancy in the following Spring. This has been a regular approach when it comes to the Winter cleaning. 

Furthermore, in early Spring 2024 the project will be extended to our new property next door to Nalanda to also include nesting boxes for the two main species of owls that live on the river banks on one of Maitreya Pure Land’s boundaries. These boxes are much larger than the ones for the song birds I have been installing. Owls are quite reclusive birds, so I need to look very closely for ideal box locations.

The general idea is to attract as many song bird species as possible to Nalanda’s properties. Most of the species are now declining primarily because of human development. Modern housing does not allow for birds to nest, and many of the older houses and barns are being modernized and renovated with the same effect. Also, the majority of the gardens in this area do not have well-established trees or secluded areas. Nalanda’s properties are ideal nesting grounds on all those points, so we can attract a lot more birds to provide a safe space and give them the facilities to nest and raise their young.