Blue Tits nesting diary 2006

[Tinkerbell]

A super light featherweight contest is on the cards, as our resident rooster squares up to the 'new kid on the block'.

Throughout the Winter a solitary blue tit has spent its nights - feathers plumped up and huddled into a corner of our nesting box - to escape the cold windy nights. However, as Spring beckons those seeking a new home are starting their search and the resident blue tit may well be confronted by a relocator, with ideas of moving in.

Two years ago we witnessed a 'punch-up' between two such contenders - feathers and blood flying for over an hour, until both birds collapsed panting heavily and exhausted, but with feet interlocked to prevent the others escape. Eventually one appeared to cease breathing, and its opponent let go. With one bound, the rival was up and away, out of the box and never to return.

In 2004 we witnessed the apprehensive first flight of 7 chicks and are hoping for a similar happy outcome this year. (In 2005 all the chicks died, one by one - we're hoping for a better result in 2006).

So watch this space - Blue Tits nesting diary 2006 has begun!

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Brilliant

Around our local lake we have around 30 nestboxes up, today one i put up on monday had Blue tits looking inside and chasing off Great tits

Going to draw them out on a map and keep a eye on which ones are taken

[Tinkerbell]

At long last the foundations are being laid. We saw the first bits of straw laying in the bottom of the nest on Sunday night, and bits of moss were being added yesterday. There has been more activity today, presumably by the bird which was roosting in the box last night.

All this is almost 3 weeks later than the start of nest building last year. A considerable amount of time in bird terms I imagine. We'll see how it progresses.

P.S. Has anyone else invested in a nestbox camera this year?

[glsammy]

I'll be reading your account with interest. I've nowhere to put a nest box, we've only got impenetrable conifers, which are used by our resident blackbirds. We never see the nest, but watch as they emerge every year.
This year we've noticed one of the previous years males coming back, challenging our resident male. Still undecided!

[Tinkerbell]

Thought the camera was US when we plugged it in earlier this week, but I'm pleased to report that it is OK. Unaware of much activity, we've just switched it on to see a beautifully constructed half nest, mainly consisting of springy moss (probably that which I raked out of the lawn on Monday).

We had just noticed a bird pecking away at the hole for some time, and it then disappeared inside the box. A few seconds later it was followed by another bluetit, but I think one must have been an intruder for the speed with which it exited this little home. Now there is much frenzied activity as more and more moss is being brought inside - something in nature must have stimulated this work so it can't be long before the nest is finished and eggs are laid.

[Tinkerbell]

Turned the camera on yesterday and could hardly believe the progress which had been made - almost complete.

However, whilst sitting down in the evening - Sat - I noticed the telltale movement of a sparrowhawk out of the corner of my eye, and saw it make its way into a conifer in a neighbouring garden (I think it was maybe trying to work out how to get at a blackbird's nest deep into the tree). Having failed with this exercise it took flight and landed on the corner of our greenhouse. Fascinated by its activity we watched it for some time, noticing how very quiet this normally noisy (in bird terms) neck of the woods had become. In a flash it swooped behind some laurels and reappeared with its prey which it removed to thicker grass next door and began to devour. We can't quite make out what has perished, but are keeping our fingers crossed that it isn't our nest builder (it didn't roost in the nesting box last night, as it has done previously). We'll be watching the box today for signs of activity.

How potentially fragile life is in the natural world.

[Tinkerbell]

Friday 14th Apr and although the bird referred to above seems to have been a pigeon, I was saddened to find a multitude of feathers in amongst the laurels this week, which are probably those of a bluetit. It would tie in with the fact that although the nesting box is being visited by other bluetits, they are approaching it with caution and none appears to have really taken up residence. Certainly nothing roosting at night, and we have seen the odd bird removing nesting material rather than bringing it in.

However, there is still plenty of time since I see that we had nine eggs on the 6th May last year, so with an average of one egg per day I wouldn't expect to start laying just yet. Fingers crossed.

[Tinkerbell]

Thursday 28th April and we have returned from Jersey to find a nest which far exceeds that built by the blue tits last year. It's deeper than ever, and has a selection of bird feathers spread around on top - the demise of one bird being the good fortune of another!

The nesting bird finally re-entered the box last night and spent a huge amount of time fiddling about with the moss etc. continually re-arranging the set-up. We had managed to spot one egg and will keep an eye out for others being laid within the next few days. This little bird hardly knows it, but from now on it's work is cut out and frantic.

[Tinkerbell]

4th May and although we have seen very little obvious toing and froing to the nest box, it's apparent that our bluetit has been extremely active. Just switched the tele on to find 9 eggs exposed, so it looks as though she's been upending daily to lay another egg (spotted on the nest a couple of days ago panting, which usually means an egg is imminent). Until today, all the eggs had been well hidden so we had no idea there were so many. It looks therefore as though she's ready to begin incubation, so there will be busy periods each day when all the eggs are turned several times to ensure they all have a chance.

It'll probably be another 10/12 days before a chick appears, but we shall have to be vigilant - we have the focus on the camera better adjusted this year, so are looking forward to more developments.

[Wild-Woman]

Our school has a nest box with camera. On Wednesday morning when I turned it on we counted 13 eggs possibly 14. Can't believe that such a little bird can produce so many. Would post a picture but I think we're not allowed to. ww

[Tinkerbell]

Your poor little bird and her beau are going to have their work cut out and no mistake - hope it doesn't exhaust them!

Great to hear your school has the camera too, I think the children are more likely to respect wildlife if they can see it as such close quarters.

[Tinkerbell]

Now that our female appears to have concluded laying we see she has 11 eggs, which is a record for our box. Some of her time is spent incubating, but eventually her own needs come to the fore and she emerges to feed and build her strength for the marathon ahead.

What amazes me about all this, from nest building to the flight of the young is that it is all instinct on the part of the birds; it's a lone activity and therefore they have no examples set by watching others. Brilliant!

[Tinkerbell]

18th April and having just tuned in to the camera, we find that we now have 8 baby residents writhing about on top of one another, mouths pointing skywards awaiting Mum's return. There are still 3 eggs left to hatch so we're talking large family here!

I hope there's plenty of the necessary food about, and that Dad puts in an appearance too otherwise this hen is going to be shattered by the time she 'puts the lights out'.

Tink

[cgilliams]

I've been intersted in reading your diary. This is the first year we've had birds nesting in our bird box and I'm so excited it's absolutely wonderful to watch them all. We have 7 babies and it sounds as though our progress is near enough exact to yours. We are moving house later this year so I do hope that we have the same experiences again in our new home as it's been a joy to watch them progress. Quick question...I have been told that we could loose some of the babies when they try and leave the nest as they sometimes don't make it, do you have any advice you can give me to provide them with anything that may prevent this.

[Tinkerbell]

Welcome to the WAB site. Pleased to hear that you enjoy reading the progress of our birds - we presently have the aforementioned 8 chicks (three failed eggs) and they are rapidly beginning to put on feather, although I've just noticed one which is very immature compared to the rest, so perhaps it's a late hatchling. I wonder if you've witnessed the mother as she prepares the little ones for bedtime, turning them to face the outside of the dent in the nest before she settles down on them. She constantly turns them about when in residence during the day too, obviously ensuring that they all have a fair chance.

I haven't been aware of chicks failing to fly the nest when ready, but we did have one very sad year when the hen was abandoned by the male parent and she just could not rear all the little ones on her own. They were obviously distressed without food and gradually died off one by one, which was so sad to see. There was nothing we could have done to help as they were still a week or so off flying.

Fortunately last year 7 flew and we saw them all doing so. What a wonderful experience that was and quite unexpected. We just had the camera on and were aware that the parents had made off for a nearby tree, where they evidently signalled to the little ones that it was time to 'go for it'. One by one a head would appear at the hole, and after considerable effort they made it across to the parents individually. No re-appearance once they've left (our job done!).

And I'm sure you'll have as much success in your next home with a new bunch of bluetits.

Regards. Tink

[Tinkerbell]

Sunday 28th May and we can only see 5 chicks now. However, those which have survived so far seem to be thriving and whilst 'Mum' was seeing to her own needs this afternoon, the young ones decided to spread their wings a little and emerged from the well of the nest and played around a little in the box. (I missed this personally). Apparently they were very active and quite comical to watch. At present they are once again 'home alone' and the scrambling about on top of one another is very funny to watch; they push and shove one another for space and one which has less feathers than the rest unfortunately gets more than its fair share of bullying.

I can hardly believe how quickly they are maturing. I've noticed since they hatched how quickly they seem to latch on to the sound of a parent approaching - well before the feeder enters the nest the motionless chicks suddenly become alert and up go the beaks in anticipation of being fed and the next moment in comes the parent on cue.

Soon it will be time for bed and 'Mum' will come in as usual and settle them down for the night. Their bodies will be turned so that their heads face outwards and she will gently sit down and cover them with the ultimate feather 'duvet'.

Fortunately both male and female parents are looking after the chicks so with a bit of luck they will soon be flying the nest. Fingers crossed once more.

[Shrub90]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

A super light featherweight contest is on the cards, as our resident rooster squares up to the 'new kid on the block'.

Throughout the Winter a solitary blue tit has spent its nights - feathers plumped up and huddled into a corner of our nesting box - to escape the cold windy nights. However, as Spring beckons those seeking a new home are starting their search and the resident blue tit may well be confronted by a relocator, with ideas of moving in.

Two years ago we witnessed a 'punch-up' between two such contenders - feathers and blood flying for over an hour, until both birds collapsed panting heavily and exhausted, but with feet interlocked to prevent the others escape. Eventually one appeared to cease breathing, and its opponent let go. With one bound, the rival was up and away, out of the box and never to return.

In 2004 we witnessed the apprehensive first flight of 7 chicks and are hoping for a similar happy outcome this year. (In 2005 all the chicks died, one by one - we're hoping for a better result in 2006).

So watch this space - Blue Tits nesting diary 2006 has begun!

Shrub90
We have had a very similar experiance this year, like you we had one bird that roosted all winter in the box, then nine eggs were layed and hatched, we now only have one chick left which we hope will fledge. We are assuming that the fatalities are due to lack of food, my own view is that the recent felling of a nearby anchient oak has not helped. We were feeding mealworms but had not thought of Starlings who found the feeder and that was the end of the Bluetits using it. We will alter that nest year. Last yaer we had two females fight each other over the box, the result was that one of them then proceeded to remove nesting material from the box and we had no nest last year. Will post if this remaining chick fleges which should be about Wednesday.

[Tornado]

Originally Posted by glsammy

I'll be reading your account with interest. I've nowhere to put a nest box, we've only got impenetrable conifers, which are used by our resident blackbirds. We never see the nest, but watch as they emerge every year.
This year we've noticed one of the previous years males coming back, challenging our resident male. Still undecided!

glsammy Tut tut tut, everyone who has a house should have at least one wall they could possibly hang a nestbox on!!! We have 3 on the back of our house, two of which have had Great tits nesting. We also hung a Sparrow box with 3 separate compartments in the hope of attracting a pair or two from the small colony down the road but sadly none were impressed!! However we still have "our" nesting blue tits and are hoping that soon they will be ready to fledge.


Late last year we had a male Grey wagtail visit the garden, and he became so regular that whenever you looked out of the window you were guaranteed to spot him. He eventually attracted a female two months ago, we suspect they are now feeding young as they take a considerable amount of mealworm with them each time they visit. We are hoping we will be privilaged enough for mum and dad to bring their fledglings into our garden to feed. This did happen a few years ago with a pair of Pied wagtails they nested nearby and arrived in our garden with (as far as I can remember) three of their brood!! They even posed for some great photos, which incidently have been "lost" due to lack of backup and our hard-drive being fried!!!

Do try (if possible) to hang a few boxes as it is both amazing to see how much work goes into nestbuilding and rewarding when you see the end result. Even more so if you are supplimenting their food source with mealworm etc.
Tornado

[Tinkerbell]

Just back from a couple of weeks holiday - most of it in Cornwall - to find that all our tits have flown the nest. Hooray!

Judging from their size when we left for our trip they would have been too big to remove if they had perished, so it was a huge relief to find the nest empty. It must have been getting awfully hot in the nestbox (even sitting under a tree today I find it almost too much for me), so they are now out there somewhere to begin the lifecycle themselves. The odd thing is that once they fledge you hardly ever see them or their parents. Where do they go?

Tink

[Wild-Woman]

Think they lay low and shed their worn out feathers. Or perhaps they go on holiday!!!!! Bringing up the kids in about 6 weeks must be hellish. I'm still trying to launch my last nearly 18 years later......then we are definitely off on holiday. Thanks for your diary of events Tinkerbell. Same again next year please.

[eeyore]

I know about and agree with Studh's decision not to allow at the nest photographs on WAB due to the possibility of disturbing nesting birds , but with all these nest box cams in existence do you think we could make an exception for them - I for one would love to see the pics and the possibility of disturbance from this sought of photography is virtually nil.

how about it Stu ?

[May]

I'm glad your babies fledged Tink.

[henrya]

Quote
The odd thing is that once they fledge you hardly ever see them or their parents. Where do they go?
Endquote

There are lots of young Blue and Great Tits in my garden twittering at each other and squabbling over the peanut feeders for several weeks - then they do disperse. I'm surprised you don't see them around just after they leave the nest.

henrya