28 January 2025
Inspired by recent fires which have destroyed significant amounts of habitat across our region, our Landcare groups are pursuing how we can use nest boxes to provide habitat to our local native animals. We want to ensure the work we do will be ecologically valuable, and as such, we are reviewing scientific literature and asking the experts for advice!
One of our leading experts on nest boxes in southeastern Australia is Dr. Ross Goldingay. Dr. Goldingay is a researcher at Southern Cross University. He has been working with gliders since his PhD and nest box research since the early 2000's.
In 2018, he and two colleagues from the Bendigo Field Naturalists, Karen Thomas and Devi Shanty, conducted a scientific review of nest box projects in southeastern Australia. Their goal was to draw some conclusions about the best way to build a box.
They analysed over 300 nest boxes, installed across 5 separate projects since 1990. These boxes had been targeted towards endangered Brush-tailed Phascogales and the more common Sugar Glider. In some projects, the boxes were installed individually and in others, they were placed in small clusters of 2-5. The boxes varied in how far apart they were spaced, and how close they were to roads or water ways. They had varied entrance positions, and they were fixed to the trees in a variety of different manners.
So, how did these nest boxes do?
The good news is that 60% of the nest boxes they checked were still functional after almost 20 years!
And even better, the boxes were frequently used by their target species, with 57% of the boxes used by Brush-tailed Phascogales and 37% used by Sugar Gliders.
Nevertheless, one common hesitation with nest box projects is the potential time and cost needed to maintain the boxes. If you plan to check your boxes every year, for boxes installed in hard to reach places, this can be a significant challenge.
Dr. Goldingay and his team looked at ways to simplify ongoing maintenance of nest boxes. They found that by using installation methods that allow for tree growth, placing at a height that could be easily maintained, and worrying less about honey bees, the cost of maintaining the boxes decreased by as much as 90%, all without impacting the value they provided to the gliders and phascogales.
So if we want to build a good nest box, that will both last many years, and provide a safe and comfortable home, where should we start?
At a 2020 symposium organised by Biolinks Alliance, Dr. Goldingay gave his best practical tips, based on his research and personal experience. We've summarised them here.
Dr. Goldingay's tips:
Where Should Nest Boxes Go?
Most importantly, you must ask the question – how many tree hollows are there around?
Nest boxes work best where there is a lack of natural tree hollows. Otherwise, animals are much more likely to choose a natural hollow, over your lovingly assembled nest box. A high density of natural tree hollows is 6 or more per hectare. If there are 6 or more natural tree hollows per hectare in your area, then nest boxes might not be very useful.
If there are less than 6 natural tree hollows per hectare, then the local animals are likely to be struggling to find suitable homes. Your nest boxes could be a very useful way to support these animals.
What should the Nest Box look like?
Next is the question of how big should the entrance hole be? Animals prefer nest boxes they can just barely squeeze into. This helps them avoid being disturbed by larger animals, or caught by predators. Smaller animals, like gliders, need a small entrance of about 4-5 cm.
On a related note, rear entry or side entry nest boxes are best at protecting animals from predators, compared to front entrances.
So choose a hole that is the smallest diameter your target species could access, and place it on the rear or side of your box.
How should the boxes be installed?
Nest boxes should be installed on the side of the tree that is shadier in the late afternoon. This is usually the east or south side of the tree. Nest boxes can be 3-5 meters above the ground. This is a good height for the animals, and is safer for the people checking the nest boxes.
The best manner of fixing the box to a tree, where those which allowed the tree to continue to grow. Boxes last the longest when attached to slow growing tree species, and when they are not directly nailed to a tree. Instead a method that allowed the tree to grow, such as hanging the box off a nail, has significantly better results.
** Our own local landcare volunteers here in the Upper Wimmera have had great success with a similar technique that allows tree growth, by using wire springs!
How many and how far apart?
Nest boxes also work best when installed in small clusters. Groups of 3is ideal. This gives animals options if one of the nest boxes is damaged. Each nest box should be at least 20 meters apart, and each small group should be at least 200 meters apart. This will help prevent different family groups of animals from coming into contact when using neighbouring nest boxes.
Would you like to hear the advice straight from the horse's mouth?
Karen Thomas and Dr. Ross Goldingay will be joining us for some Q&A at an upcoming workshop hosted by Jallukar Landcare. All are welcome to join!
You can also find more information at our nest box resource page:
Banner image: Sugar Gliders © Mononymous, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC) via iNaturalist

Elia Pirtle
Landcare Facilitator and Communications Officer