Is it too late for bluetits to build a nest?

mandrose

My sons gave my mum a nesting box with CCTV in it for xmas.

Its given her hours of entertainment and up until 2 weeks ago there was loads of daily activity with blue tits going in and out. The kitchen became the favorite room as the tv in there is linked to the camera and its strangely very addictive! She spent a fortune on Meal Worms etc to make sure she had the proper food on the bird table.

Everything suddenly stopped after a wasp entered the box and although it did come out I wondered if it left a scent of some sort or was that just a coincidence. We decided this year she wouldn't be lucky enough to see a nest built, however on Friday the activity started again!

We keep seeing one doing a sweeping motion with his/her wings and on occasion there have been 2 birds in the box.

Is it possible that we might get a nest build after all?

carebearbecky

Blue tits can raise three broods in a year, and it is still very early in the breeding season, so yes - do not fret, if they look like they are having another shot, then they probably are.

mandrose

Thank you for your reply Carebearbecky - I've just read it out to mum and its made her day!

We'll keep our fingers crossed, as family and friends all gravitate to the the kitchen at the moment to stare at a mostly empty box!

In fact, if a nest is built I think its a good excuse for a Baby Shower party!

emiff6

I have bluetits building in a box in the garden. Remembering that last year they spent a lot of time tugging at the jute string that tied my beanpoles together, this year I cut several 6 inch lengths of jute string, and untwisted it into as many strands as I could (about 4 or 5), which makes it very soft and fluffy, and artfully draped it over twigs and shrubs.

It was eagerly pounced on by both bluetits and sparrows as well, gathered up, and taken away to be used as nesting material.

My garden is small, and the bluetits spend a lot of time, now they are building, driving goldfinches, greattits, and also the robins away from the sunflower feeders. They are SO possessive! They chase them right out of the garden.

carebearbecky

Blue tits are hardy birds (as my lack of cuticles will attest to!) and they readily nest in boxes so I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Provided it is in a good place (not south facing or it will get too warm) then they love it, especially if you are adding supplementary food.

Emiff is right as well - they love fluffy string and things like that. At this time of the year I put out hair from my hairbrushes and that is always snaffled right away as well.

whitewing

Can you get pictures off it for us on here, and also where did you get the birdbox? I keep thinking about getting one for us here.

mandrose

We're off tomorrow to buy a new shed (probably should explain we all live in one house!) and a ball of jute string has been added to the shopping list!

I have got a picture on my phone Whitewing but I'm not sure how to get it on here - I'll see if one of my son's can help me.

The one we have is http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000W6DJ4Q/ref=oh_o05_s00_i00_details and it was very easy to install, in fact I did it myself! The sound on it is very good as well, so you don't need to keep watching the tv as you can hear the pecking when they go in.

geoffky

I have two boxes plenty of viewings but no rent yet..plenty of time

Miss_Havisham

I put a small nesting box on my shed about 5 years ago and as far as I can see, it's never had even a sniff from a potential lodger. It's similar to the one in the Amazon link above but without a camera. It faces north/north east.

I hang all sorts of bird feeders in a lilac tree about 10 feet from the box and loads of little birds have a feeding frenzy every morning, but none go near the box.

Am I doing anything wrong, how can I make it more "attractive" to them ?

Thanks for any help

Miss H

wellused

I made a lovely box as shown on Blue Peter some years ago positioned it in several places over the years but never got a resident, maybe there was another more favoured nest box nearby as blue tits won't nest near to each other. I did have a wasps nest in a bush once though.

carebearbecky

Miss_Havisham wrote: »

I put a small nesting box on my shed about 5 years ago and as far as I can see, it's never had even a sniff from a potential lodger. It's similar to the one in the Amazon link above but without a camera. It faces north/north east.

I hang all sorts of bird feeders in a lilac tree about 10 feet from the box and loads of little birds have a feeding frenzy every morning, but none go near the box.

Am I doing anything wrong, how can I make it more "attractive" to them ?

Thanks for any help

Miss H

Your main problem is the proximity to the feeders, they much prefer a quieter spot with less traffic (don't we all!). Being close to feeders means there's a much bigger chance of predators being attracted so birds will shy away from using sites which would otherwise be considered suitable.

As for what you can do to remedy the situation, that's a toughie without seeing what you have as a set up - sorry.