Is it too late for bluetits to build a nest?

Becles

Blue tits nest in the bushes in next doors garden. I always brush my collies outside this weather and leave the rolls of fur on the path, and the blue tits go mental for it. They must have really cosy nests next door

crumblepie

I do the same with the cat's hair. Give the cat a good brush and put the hair in the shrubs by the bird table.

I would love a bird box, but having a tiny garden there's no where to put one. Watching them at the bird table is the next best thing though.

mandrose

What a day! I thought I would come here to give you an update!

Activity in and out of the box was huge this morning, with one or two tits popping in constantly! We literally have sat glued to the tv all day, apart from going to Homebase to buy some Jute string (thanks emiff).

I decided to video the tv on my iphone and got some lovely film of one of them in the box. A few mins later I decided to film again, as one was sitting ready to enter and can you imagine my excitement when it went in with a bit of string!! :j

We finally have a nest being built, just a few strands at the moment but its a start! I'm gutted I have to go back to work tomorrow as would much rather sit and see what is going to happen next!

Thank you everyone for your help & tips. I'll keep you updated with what happens next - I cant wait!

Pipkin

Afew years ago a very kind relative gave us a voucher for Dobbies, and we used it to buy a proper nest box. It has been on the side of our garden shed all that time - had a few birds look at it, and evidence the entrance hole has been pecked at but nothing - but finally this year we appear to have a pair of bluetits doing something in there (they are bakc and forth every day) so I am hoping (please God) they are building a nest.

Funnily enough when my OH looked in the box earlier in the year there had been a wasps nest in there which was now dead and empty, so we wondered if that kept the birds away last year as definitely they had spent time looking at it.

Hoping to get OH one of those camera nest boxes for his christmas, he will love it.

poppysarah

wellused wrote: »

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,

Facing different directions?

geoffky

IF you do not get a nesting bird first year change the place and the way it faces..really the more hidden in a place it is the better.

mandrose

Another update - we're having daily visits, although they are only bringing in a little bit of bedding a day! The box is probably about a quarter full now. We've looked it up and know it can take up to 2 weeks for a nest to be built, so we're sitting back and enjoying watching the nest take shape! Both mum & I are inviting friends around daily to join us in enjoying this experience!

Goodness knows what we will do for entertainment once this has finished!

cootambear

just a thought

why not go round the local barbers and get a sack of hair

mandrose

cootambear wrote: »

just a thought

why not go round the local barbers and get a sack of hair

We've already emptied our hairbrushes and then taken advise from above and bought some Jute string. We've spent ages stripping it down and its just like hair when done. The birds (not just our nesting pair) have been going mad taking it!

s_b

got some blue tits at work
they are nesting in a hole in the wall never had them before
we also have swallows every year and at home they sit on the telephone line before going south at the end of the summer,i stopped counting at 100 2 years ago
lovely sight