BUILD PROJECT · CAMERA · PROJECT HISTORY

Another nest box had originally been planned for the winter of 2018/2019. Things turned out differently: the idea became a homemade squirrel drey with a camera, microphone and, later, a rather unexpected story.

After building a feeding box for the squirrels living here, I had the idea of also providing them with a protected sleeping place and observing it with a camera.

Two online building guides served as inspiration at the time, but unfortunately they are no longer available. I therefore adapted and expanded the design for my own purposes.

The drey consists of two sections: the actual living area with a small “balcony” and a separate upper section for the camera equipment.

Base plate: 40 × 50 cm, 18 mm stark
Living area: ca. 29 × 39 cm
Front: 25 cm hoch
Rear panel: 30 cm hoch
Openings: 7 cm Durchmesser

I included several entrances and exits, with side openings and a forward exit onto the balcony. The idea was to give the animal several escape routes if necessary.

An IP camera is installed in the upper technical section. Because there was more space than in the tit nest boxes, the supplied power adapter could be used directly. The camera also has a line-in connection for an external microphone. After an initial attempt with a microphone that was too quiet, a more suitable solution was installed.

I added wood wool and kapok as basic nesting material. It was intended as an invitation to the squirrels, but as it turned out, someone quite different was interested first.

The wood wool and kapok did indeed attract a resident, just not a squirrel. In spring 2019, a tree bumblebee queen decided to use the drey as a nesting site.

The drey was not particularly suitable for a bumblebee nest, however. The large openings provided little protection. First wax moths appeared, later tits and, at night, a mouse. The nest was increasingly damaged and unfortunately the colony did not survive permanently.

At first, no squirrel moved in permanently. There were brief visits, but the original location in the willow tree was probably not ideal: relatively low and very close to the feeding station.

In spring 2020 the drey was therefore moved to the house under the eaves. A jute rope running from the ground past the drey was intended to make access easier for the animals.

If you would like to know more about this build or are planning a similar drey yourself, feel free to get in touch.