Nest box activity

Discussion in 'Wildlife Corner' started by strongylodon, Jan 31, 2018.

  1. strongylodon

    strongylodon Old Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2006
    Messages:
    14,755
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Wareham, Dorset
    Ratings:
    +28,243
    Anyone else seen nest box activity? ours has had a Blue Tit roost every night since before Christmas but now goes back to check it in the day time and has also 'shown' it to another couple. Whether it will be used this Spring we will have to wait and see as it hasn't been used (apart from roosting) since we put it up three years ago!
    blue tit 1.jpg

    blue tit 2.jpg
     
    • Like Like x 10
    • martin-f

      martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

      Joined:
      Mar 15, 2015
      Messages:
      3,372
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Sheffield
      Ratings:
      +10,302
      Ive not noticed this year but have previous years at this time of the year, reading up blue tits pick there home at this time of the year, unfortunately none of my nest boxes have been a first choice :frown:
       
      • Friendly Friendly x 2
      • Like Like x 1
      • Jiffy

        Jiffy The Match is on Fire

        Joined:
        Aug 25, 2011
        Messages:
        11,168
        Occupation:
        Pyro
        Location:
        Retired Next To The Bonfire in UK
        Ratings:
        +31,466
        We had one Blue tit looking at one box in middle of Jan, but now no actitvity
         
        • Like Like x 2
        • Friendly Friendly x 2
        • strongylodon

          strongylodon Old Member

          Joined:
          Feb 12, 2006
          Messages:
          14,755
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired
          Location:
          Wareham, Dorset
          Ratings:
          +28,243
          This could happen again as ours was inspected by a pair last year but not chosen.:frown:
           
          • Like Like x 3
          • shiney

            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

            Joined:
            Jul 3, 2006
            Messages:
            61,000
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Retired - Last Century!!!
            Location:
            Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
            Ratings:
            +117,298
            @strongylodon Is it too late to take down our tit boxes and clean them out? Haven't done it for three years :doh:
             
            • Like Like x 3
            • strongylodon

              strongylodon Old Member

              Joined:
              Feb 12, 2006
              Messages:
              14,755
              Gender:
              Male
              Occupation:
              Retired
              Location:
              Wareham, Dorset
              Ratings:
              +28,243
              Unless you have seen any activity I would say do it as soon as possible as they will are starting to check them out and will start nest building roughly late Feb early March.
               
              • Like Like x 2
              • Agree Agree x 1
              • Informative Informative x 1
              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                Joined:
                Jul 3, 2006
                Messages:
                61,000
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired - Last Century!!!
                Location:
                Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                Ratings:
                +117,298
                Thanks
                 
                • Friendly Friendly x 1
                • martin-f

                  martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

                  Joined:
                  Mar 15, 2015
                  Messages:
                  3,372
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Location:
                  Sheffield
                  Ratings:
                  +10,302
                  I've been meaning to make a few boxes of my own I'm convinced they don't like the cheap bought boxes ive bought, I will make a couple tomorrow.
                   
                  • Like Like x 2
                  • Friendly Friendly x 1
                  • shiney

                    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                    Joined:
                    Jul 3, 2006
                    Messages:
                    61,000
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Occupation:
                    Retired - Last Century!!!
                    Location:
                    Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                    Ratings:
                    +117,298
                    Cleaned two boxes. One was empty but the other had seven eggs in it. Don't know what to do with them :scratch:
                     
                    • Like Like x 3
                    • luciusmaximus

                      luciusmaximus Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Apr 18, 2014
                      Messages:
                      3,137
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Occupation:
                      Lost in the Wilderness
                      Location:
                      Isle of Anglesey
                      Ratings:
                      +6,899
                      I've noticed our Bluetits, Starlings and Sparrows checking out the boxes recently and inspecting a few bushes/shrubs.
                       
                      • Like Like x 4
                      • Kandy

                        Kandy Will be glad to see the sun again soon.....

                        Joined:
                        Apr 23, 2006
                        Messages:
                        11,465
                        Occupation:
                        Head gardener
                        Location:
                        In the Middle Of Blighty
                        Ratings:
                        +6,543
                        I always ask Mr Kandy to check on and empty our nest boxes within a few weeks of the babies fledging because one time he forgot until the spring and one chick that got left behind and had died was just bones by the time he got round to it:sad:

                        Our Blue Tits we have found don’t start to check out our boxes until at least April and we can hear them tapping at the box entrance every day:biggrin:

                        Last Year because we were having a visit from a Great Spotted Woodpecker every day to our nut feeder the tits never nested and I think it is because the GSW is a Predator and would drill into the box to get to the chicks so I think they had second thoughts:sad: I have a pair of Blue Tits actively feeding in the garden but whether they’re will use the nest box this year it will be interesting to see:smile:
                         
                        • Like Like x 4
                        • Friendly Friendly x 1
                          Last edited: Feb 2, 2018
                        • luciusmaximus

                          luciusmaximus Total Gardener

                          Joined:
                          Apr 18, 2014
                          Messages:
                          3,137
                          Gender:
                          Female
                          Occupation:
                          Lost in the Wilderness
                          Location:
                          Isle of Anglesey
                          Ratings:
                          +6,899
                          I had the same, but ours move around from box to box each year. The Sparrows do the same.
                           
                          • Like Like x 5
                          • shiney

                            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                            Joined:
                            Jul 3, 2006
                            Messages:
                            61,000
                            Gender:
                            Male
                            Occupation:
                            Retired - Last Century!!!
                            Location:
                            Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                            Ratings:
                            +117,298
                            Our tit boxes are on trees that are about 40ft from the bird feeders and about 120ft, in the other direction, from the trees that house three families of Great Spotted Woodpeckers. The woodies seem to spend most of the day flying backwards and forwards (a silly saying :heehee: as I've only ever seen a hummingbird flying backwards) over the tit boxes to the feeders.
                             
                            • Like Like x 3
                            • strongylodon

                              strongylodon Old Member

                              Joined:
                              Feb 12, 2006
                              Messages:
                              14,755
                              Gender:
                              Male
                              Occupation:
                              Retired
                              Location:
                              Wareham, Dorset
                              Ratings:
                              +28,243
                              I can't say for sure @shiney but I imagine the eggs were from an abandoned nest box last year. Blue and Great Tits do not breed this early as there is no food for them and it is timed to coincide with caterpillar emergence in March.
                              Metal entrance holes can be screwed onto nest boxes where Woodpeckers are around.
                               
                              • Like Like x 3
                              • Informative Informative x 2
                              • Kandy

                                Kandy Will be glad to see the sun again soon.....

                                Joined:
                                Apr 23, 2006
                                Messages:
                                11,465
                                Occupation:
                                Head gardener
                                Location:
                                In the Middle Of Blighty
                                Ratings:
                                +6,543
                                @strongylodon on Springwatch last year they were saying that it makes no difference in putting one of those metal plates on the front of the boxes because the GSW just drill their way through a different part of the box if they are that desperate to get to the chicks inside:sad:
                                 
                                • Like Like x 1
                                Loading...

                                Share This Page

                                1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                                  By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                                  Dismiss Notice