Entering your observations online

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When to start a new record

You should start a new record every time a new nest is started or found. This means if you're monitoring a nest box and a new nest is built in it or a new clutch of eggs laid, you should start a new record rather than adding more visits to an existing one. What about if you're monitoring a box that hasn't been used yet? In that case, please start a new record at the beginning of the year, rather than adding more visits to last year's record.
 

Entering a new record in a new location

  1. Log in to Nesting Neighbours.
  2. Select start new nest record from the options.
  3. From the location of nest drop down select in a new location.
  4. A map will pop up where you can select your location – this is the general area you will be recording nests; for example your garden, the local park, your work car park.
  5. You can zoom the map to an area by entering either the postcode or a 1km grid reference.
  6. Click the centre of the location you would like to record your nest and enter a name for your location e.g. ‘Garden’, ‘Local park’, ‘Work’.
  7. When you save the location you will be taken back to the data entry page.
  8. Here you can select if the nest is in a nest box or a nest (not in a box). If you select nest box you will need to give the box a name to distinguish it from any other boxes in this location.
  9. Select the species from the species drop down. If you are not yet sure of the species you can select ‘Unknown species’. Make sure to update this once you do know which species is using the box, otherwise we cannot make use of the information.
  10. Enter the relevant details on nest visits.
  11. Save nest record.

Entering a new record in an existing location

  1. Log in to Nesting Neighbours.
  2. Select start new nest record from the options.
  3. If the nest is in a box you've recorded before, just click the location of nest field and select the box from the list that appears.
  4. If the nest is at a location you've told us about before but in a new box, click the location of nest field and select a new box from the list that appears under that location name.
  5. Otherwise, click the location of nest field and select not in a box from the list under the location name.
  6. Select the species from the species drop down. If you are not yet sure of the species you can select unknown species. Make sure to update this once you do know which species is using the box, otherwise we cannot make use of the information.
  7. Enter the relevant details on nest visits. 
  8. Save nest record.

Continue a Record you have started

  1. Log in to Nesting Neighbours.
  2. Select edit/review nest records from the options. 
  3. Find the record you wish to update. You can find records by filtering by location and/or year.
  4. Select open. This will open a window where you can add to and edit details of the record.
  5. Once you have added the required details save nest record and close the pop up using the x in the top right of the form. 

Entering visits

  1. The date and time entered should be the day and time of the nest visit in format dd/mm/yyyy.
  2. The number of eggs and young entered should be as accurate as possible. Do not over estimate the number present but instead put the minimum count. For example, if you know there are at leat 3 eggs but could have been more you can enter 3+, if you think eggs or young may be present you can enter ?.
  3. Status codes are very valuable for building a picture of the nest. You can enter details of the stage of nest building, egg and young progress, parent activity and most importantly whether the nest was successful or failed. Status codes should be used rather than free text comments as free text cannot be used for analysis.
  4. Once the nesting attempt is finished enter a status code, for example if the nest is empty and it appears all of the young were able to leave you can enter the status nest empty, if you have seen the young in the garden having left the box you can enter the status fledged young near nest.
     

Adding nest box details

  1. Log in to Nesting Neighbours.
  2. Select add nest box design details from the options.
  3. Select the box you wish to edit or add details to from the drop down. You can also start typing the location or nest box name
  4. Select edit.
  • ​Box height: height from the ground in meters.
  • Predator protection: if you select this option you can then input details of which protection you have implemented. For example this could be a metal plate around a nest box hole or a material placed around the box to deter woodpeckers. 
  • Exposure: Is the box fully exposed or hidden in foliage. For example a Robin 
  • Orientation: Is the box facing North, South, East or West? You may be able to use a compass on your phone if you are not sure.
  • Over water: Is the box over a stream or river?
  • Box Placement: The most common example for a nest box would be on tree. You can enter up to five descriptions of the box placement.
  1. Edit details as required and then save.

Please note: any updates made on the nest record itself will only be relevant to that particular nest record. It is much more efficient to follow the instructions above to save inputting details annually / for each nesting attempt.

Adding details to a nest not in a box

  1. Log in to Nesting Neighbours.
  2. If you are starting a new nest record, once you have selected the location from the drop down a tab for nest site details will appear where you can input information. 
  3. If updating a record the nest site details tab will be available. 
  4. Select edit. ​
  • ​Box height: height from the ground in meters.
  • Predator protection: If you have implemented anything to protect the nest you can make a record of it.
  • Exposure: Is the box fully exposed or hidden in foliage?
  • Orientation: Is the nest entrance facing North, South, East or West? You may be able to use a compass on your phone if you are not sure.
  • Over water: Is the nest over a stream or river?
  • Box Placement: The common example for a nest is in bush or in tree. You can enter up to five descriptions of the nest location.
  1. Edit details as required and then save.

Adding habitat details

  1. Log in to Nesting Neighbours.
  2. You can only update habitat details once you have recorded a nest and created the location.
  3. Once a location has been created select add habitat details from the options.
  4. Select the location from the dropdown box.
  5. Select edit.
  • Primary habitat:
  • Size of location:
  • Roughly how many trees:
  • Are there areas of dense creeper?
  • Do you put food out for birds?
  • How often do you see predators?

Run into difficulty?

If need help, have a look at the page you are on—often there will be a help button or else a pop-up window will appear when you hover the mouse over an item you are unsure about. If you can't find any relevant help on the page, please click here for more advice.

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