I have had some blue tits on the feeders all winter at the bottom of my garden. I only put the box up about 3 weekd ago which I thought was too late. Anyway they went straight in and are in and out every few minutes now.
Big success.
Martyn Jones said
Thu Apr 5 12:03 AM, 2012
I saw that behaviour last year - turned out it was two different pairs of Blue Tits and one was nicking the others nest material!
Robert Farmer said
Wed Apr 4 7:15 PM, 2012
I have a box with a camera and have had a pair of blue-tits in and out on a pretty regular basis. The two enter together then one immediately leaves. The one remaining then spends a minute or two looking bemused, pecking the side of the box then clears off.
They had brought enough nesting material during the last few days to cover the floor of the box, but then seemed to have a change of heart and removed most of it. Then brought some back and so it starts again.
Fingers crossed they will make their minds up soon!
Neil Ferguson said
Tue Apr 3 3:09 PM, 2012
Had a Coal Tit checking out one of mine at the weekend.Fingers crossed. I moved the other Tit box to a better spot on Saturday as it has been constantly ignored since last year.
JasonAtkinson said
Tue Apr 3 1:51 AM, 2012
Blue Tits and Great Tits are busy prospecting and pairing up right now. The nest should be complete in the box by the middle of April and laying starts early May. Both Tits are totally dependant on small green catapillars to feed there young so they sync laying/incubating/hatching on these. This is also why they only have one brood. We have both Tits in the garden roosting in boxes during the winter and nesting successfully in the summer, last year Blue Tits reared 4 chicks and the Great Tits 9 chicks. Fingers crossed we have the same success this year.
Cheers Jason
Ian Campbell said
Mon Apr 2 10:41 PM, 2012
Blue and Great Tits nestbuilding in my garden right now Cheers Ian
tom willis said
Mon Apr 2 8:56 PM, 2012
Hi Martyn,
I remember looking at your webcam last year. I'd a camera too but the young saldy perished after the female vanished (I blame the local cats). Anyway, looking back through my diary from last year it was late-April before nest building got going in full swing, with the 1st egg being laid on the 22nd. The box is still empty this year (I checked the camera yesterday) but there have been a pair of blue tits investigating for several weeks now. I've also attached a spiky tree collar under the box to try and dissuade the cats. Fingers crossed.
Tom
Martyn Jones said
Mon Apr 2 1:30 AM, 2012
Great news Gary - I did the same and it wasn't used in the first year, but last year we had eight eggs of which three fledged successfully. Last year the nest building had started by now and I was just wondering if it was getting a bit late now - however Ian has said it's not too late yet, so we're still hoping. Cheers.
gary mills said
Mon Apr 2 12:27 AM, 2012
Martyn
3 years after purchasing a camera box from Aldi i've finally got an interest this year. The female has been going in and out for the last couple of months. Last saturday (24/3) she started to bring nesting material in and also roosting in the box at night time. She's been busy ever since. Fingers crossed.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Apr 1 11:18 PM, 2012
Certainly not too late Martyn.
Martyn Jones said
Sun Apr 1 11:14 PM, 2012
Has anyone got Blue Tits in their nest box yet?
This time last year I had a pair building a nest in mine but so far this year there has only been one brief investigation a couple of weeks ago and nothing since. Is it too late now for Blue Tits to be building their nest or can I still keep my fingers crossed? My live nestcam video feed is waiting for some action.
Big success.
They had brought enough nesting material during the last few days to cover the floor of the box, but then seemed to have a change of heart and removed most of it. Then brought some back and so it starts again.
Fingers crossed they will make their minds up soon!
Cheers
Jason
Cheers Ian
I remember looking at your webcam last year. I'd a camera too but the young saldy perished after the female vanished (I blame the local cats). Anyway, looking back through my diary from last year it was late-April before nest building got going in full swing, with the 1st egg being laid on the 22nd. The box is still empty this year (I checked the camera yesterday) but there have been a pair of blue tits investigating for several weeks now. I've also attached a spiky tree collar under the box to try and dissuade the cats. Fingers crossed.
Tom
3 years after purchasing a camera box from Aldi i've finally got an interest this year. The female has been going in and out for the last couple of months. Last saturday (24/3) she started to bring nesting material in and also roosting in the box at night time. She's been busy ever since. Fingers crossed.
This time last year I had a pair building a nest in mine but so far this year there has only been one brief investigation a couple of weeks ago and nothing since. Is it too late now for Blue Tits to be building their nest or can I still keep my fingers crossed? My live nestcam video feed is waiting for some action.