Actitivity with Nest boxes 2009

[Hazelnuts]

We have placed our bird box up on our back fence at the beginning of this year. It is a good quality one from the RSPB. One that has an additional metal plate fitted so that the hole cannot be gnawed by squirrels, made made larger by GS Woodpeckers or otherwise.

There has no sign any Blue Tits/Coal Tits having a look yet. Anyone had any sightings of maternal things happening ie nest building

Since the cold weather has gone now (I hope) the nesting must be on birds minds now.

[PeterReynolds]

Apart from the blue tit that roosts in one of our boxes every night, we have other blue tits investigating one of the other boxes from time to time during the day. Its the same one that had a nest of great tits last year so it must be in a good spot.

[Mobee]

I have had a pair of bluetits regularly checking out my nest box over the last couple of weeks. This morning they were 'box tapping' for the first time. I hope it is the same pair that built a nest in this box last year. They abandoned it then when a bumble bee moved in. Is there any way I can deter the bees from going in this year. I have a bumble bee box but they aren't interested in it.

[Lizzielady]

I have a pair of blue tits checking out my nest box this week. So fingers crossed.

[Hazelnuts]

I have only seen Blue Tits flitting about in two's chasing each other around the garden, So it does give me hope that birds are feeling a sense of the 'birds and the bees' in my own garden. We live in hope.

Oh well hope for some more 'sightings' soon. :D

[Hazelnuts]

A picture of our Blue Tit/Coal Tit new home. Will take some more pictures too when the better quality camera comes our way.

Then it will be bird hides and more pictures greaaaaat....... :D

Best experience to go out bird spotting and being out in the fresh air and the countryside. Brilliant, educational, experience anyday! :D

[Hazelnuts]

I have to admit i was pretty impressed by what was set up by the RSPB in Sandy this afternoon, today. They laid on Bird Box classes for £7 a session.

I could see that one or two people had a new bird box to take home with them, Great idea and if anyone wants to go to visiut their RSPB, I am sure that simliar classes will be laid on. :)

[Hazelnuts]

Hi there

We have placed a second bird box in our garden to entice the Blue Tits, and the Coal tits. So now we have 2 bird boxes.

There is a sad story attached to the second Nest box. A male friend who I met a work, and taught me my new position as a Drawing Office Assistant in Engineering in the mid 80's made me the bird box (in the picture) and a bird Table.
I have pictures of both and will post the picture of the Bird Table when I can.
Anyway, this friend was close to retirement when I met him and he just got over a severe stroke. He had to learn to talk, and function again. While he was recovering he made the Bird Table and the Bird Box for me from scratch. He was very technically minded.
Then he had a less serious stroke, recovered from that, and retired from work, and we kept in touch for years and years until he died a couple of years ago. This is how I remember him and it means a lot to me to have part of him.

The first bird box - we have repositioned it a little to encourage Blue tits, and Coal Tits

The second bird box made by my friend is by the normal feeders in our garden. You can see from the pictures it needs some love, and it will be re-vamped after this years nesting is over. I think we may have to add a metal surround to the hole incase the hole is made bigger by any other animal.

[Mobee]

My garden shares a boundary with the local first school. Last weekend they put up 10 nest boxes in close proximity to my garden, I haven't seen my bluetits since. Boo hoo :(:(

[Hazelnuts]

My OH said there has been some activity about with Coal Tits eyeing up the boxes, and a couple of flitty Blue Tits getting close to thinking about moving in.

So we will see what happens next, if any of the birds take a shine to the bird boxes or not

Ohhh, I feel so excited now at the thought of babies! . Silly me. :):)

[abqaiqjohn]

Also have blue tits in and out of the box already so hopefully they will use it again. A robin has been checking out a box on the wall as well so fingers crossed for that one.

[Hazelnuts]

We bought this little woven nest box for Wrens and the likes to keep warm in. We should have bought it through the winter snowy period.

It ia supposed to be really cold tonight, so I hope that some animals make use of the wovan nest box or Roost box as it is called, for a bit of additional warmth. :)

[PeterReynolds]

It's driving me mad. Still waiting for anything to start work in a camera box. Going on holiday soon .... you watch them all nest building whilst i'm away !

[Jandy]

I have four roosting pockets a bit like yours, Kathy, around the garden. I got them in that really cold snap, but I can't say for certain whether they've been used - I hope so! A couple are rather a weird design, with holes fore and aft - making them a bit draughty, I would have thought!

[Hazelnuts]

I have four roosting pockets a bit like yours, Kathy, around the garden. I got them in that really cold snap, but I can't say for certain whether they've been used - I hope so! A couple are rather a weird design, with holes fore and aft - making them a bit draughty, I would have thought!

hi Jandy

I think that they are a great idea, and they are not very expensive either. You can hang them in your bushes anywhere you wish. The thing is if they fall apart it is not too much of an expense at all.

I am sure birds like the Wrens would make use of them. House Sparrows like to have a bit of comfort also so they may use them too. Intereresting what you find out and learning goes on and on!! :D

The odd designer ones you have mentioned Jandy sound a bit :eek: for birds. Surely they do not have front and back doors ;)

[PeterReynolds]

Blue tits now busily nest building .... of the 9 boxes available they chose the only one in full sun during the morning .... may be a lesson here...

[emma bessant]

I am soooooooo excited as i have blue tits and great tits nesting in the boxes in the garden this year!!! I posted a question last week about whether it was too late to clean out a box i had missed and as no reply!!! decided to do it anyway and 2 days later the great tits were in there, i can see lots of wasted hours looking through my binoculars!!!! also the two starlings that nest every year in the roof are about too!!!!!
Exciting times
Emma xx

[valbryle]

I have a pair of blue tits checking out my nest box this week. So fingers crossed.
I also have a pair of great tits in and out of the nest box , fingers crossed

[emma bessant]

Keep me posted!! Good luck i hope they nest in both. xx