Mystery Hole?

[emma bessant]

I Looked at my BlueTit Bird box today and there is a big hole :eek: in the side (about the size of the hole in the front) also some of the bark was stripped back (the bird box was a bought one but made out of Silver Birch) There was Bird nest at the bottom of the tree. WHO HAS DONE THIS??? Woodpecker? Squirrels? Does anyone have any ideas?
The Great Tits fledged last Sunday so I thought the BlueTits would have already gone, but the worrting thing is there are no babies feeding in the garden, normally there are loads of new babies learning to feed from the feeders, so maybe something awful has happened????
Emma:mad:

[Jandy]

Can you upload a photo of the damage to the bird box? It might give a clue.

[emma bessant]

Sorry being really dumb I have taken a pic but dont know how to get it on here?????
Emma xx


Can you upload a photo of the damage to the bird box? It might give a clue.

[emma bessant]

1933
Still trying to download pic!! If this works, any ideas who did this to the side of my birdbox??? My husband thinks a woodpecker and says he thinks the babies couldnt have been dragged out of the hole, I am not so sure:mad:
Emma xxx

[sarahwarren]

Hmm very strange, i was thinking rats?

[emma bessant]

Really???
The way it was attatched to the tree im not sure they could have held on???
I just dont know?
I am just praying my little bluetits made it out safely?
Emma xx



Hmm very strange, i was thinking rats?

[Mobee]

Hi Emma

Very strange. You could ask the experts on Springwatch might be worth a try.

[keelo44]

Hi Emma,
Woodpeckersw are well known for attacking boxes to get at the chicks, but they normally enlarge the entrance hole, thats why its wise to put a metal ring around the hole, it does look like its been gnawed, possibly by a ferret or stoat, i dont know if you live in an urban area or in the countryside, but i dont think its rats....Steve

[emma bessant]

Hi Steve,
Could it have been squirrels?? I live in the country with fields and woods behind us. I have never seen a ferrett ot Stoats round here. Do you think the chicks escaped???
Emma xxx


Hi Emma,
Woodpeckersw are well known for attacking boxes to get at the chicks, but they normally enlarge the entrance hole, thats why its wise to put a metal ring around the hole, it does look like its been gnawed, possibly by a ferret or stoat, i dont know if you live in an urban area or in the countryside, but i dont think its rats....Steve

[keelo44]

Hi Emma,
Ive never known squirrels to attack chicks, but you never know, i still say its either a ferret or stoat, gotta go to bed now, been cross stitching all evening, my eyes are tired...Steve xx

[sarahwarren]

Rats will hang on by 1 claw to get at wat they want and i have seen them try for a chaffinch baby before :( sorry to be so blatent x

[Jandy]

What makes me think it might have been a woodpecker is that there look to be several spots where it looks like it's had a practice go with its beak, like little puncture marks, before picking the final spot and really going for it, or of course they could be claw marks where it was holding on. It looks as if there's some other damage as well up towards the top right of the box, or was that its natural state?

Also, are ferrets and stoats known to climb trees?

[emma bessant]

No The Box was in good condition it had been up for three years before it was chosen as a home but was still in as new condition, I bought it from cj Wildbird catalouge.
So............ would they have got out safely in your opinion???? Or should I just convince myself they did and they are one of the several Baby's that are filling my garden at the moment!!!!
Emma xxxx:rolleyes:

What makes me think it might have been a woodpecker is that there look to be several spots where it looks like it's had a practice go with its beak, like little puncture marks, before picking the final spot and really going for it, or of course they could be claw marks where it was holding on. It looks as if there's some other damage as well up towards the top right of the box, or was that its natural state?

Also, are ferrets and stoats known to climb trees?

[keelo44]

Hi Emma,
Regarding your "mystery hole", there is an article in todays( Saturday) Daily Mail about grey squirrels, and apparently they do attack nests, eggs and chicks, and even come back for the parent birds, ans also they will destroy the nest when they have taken everything else, i never knew this about squirrels
Steve xx