Birds in Loft

[arenaman]

Hello, I've registered as I need a bit of advice, unfortunately I don't know much about birds and appear to have some nesting under the tiles in the loft. I've just heard them today for the first time. I can hear them moving around, there's lots of squeaking and cheeping it sounds like it's between the felt and the tiles and there's several of them (sounds like babies)

Does anyone know if this is normal?, It's freezing and December I thought it was spring that birds nested?

I have had rats or squirrels in the loft previously (we never did find out what it was) but this is different, definite cheeping and not in the loft itself but apparently under the tiles.

Can anyone help? Thanks

[Jason Green]

Hi Arenaman, and welcome to WAB!

Originally Posted by arenaman

Does anyone know if this is normal?, It's freezing and December I thought it was spring that birds nested?

They do - but also a lot of others go into summer too, temperature depending. Perhaps surprisingly, Pigeons and Doves can raise young all year round, so if it sounds like babies then the squeeking could be young either being fed or calling for food.

Do you have House Sparrows or Starlings in the area? Either of these may be roosting there, and could be the cause of the sounds you hear... I'll await other views on this.

Take care,

Jason

[arenaman]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Hi Arenaman, and welcome to WAB!



They do - but also a lot of others go into summer too, temperature depending. Perhaps surprisingly, Pigeons and Doves can raise young all year round, so if it sounds like babies then the squeeking could be young either being fed or calling for food.

Do you have House Sparrows or Starlings in the area? Either of these may be roosting there, and could be the cause of the sounds you hear... I'll await other views on this.

Take care,

Jason

Thanks Jason,

There's generally loads of birds around here, not to the point where it's ever bothered us though, we back onto a small wooded area so there's lots of wildlife. There's mostly magpies and pigeons but also smaller ones such as sparrows and starlings.

There's no evidence of them being in the loft itself (no bird droppings) and no further evidence that the rat/squirrel is back and when I got in the loft you cold hear them very loudly and definitely sounded like they were under the tiles (but i can't be 100%) I couldn't see any felt moving. i'm sure they've only just hatched/arrived there as we'd haven't heard this before (and it was loud)

Could they just have been in the guttering or on the roof or is it normal for them to move around underneath tiles? It was getting dark so we couldn't see outside

Thanks.

[Beekeeper]

arenaman,

Firstly welcome to our little home and perhaps you could just confirm something.

To have birds between the tiles and felt seems a bit odd to me, usually the felt is laid on the roof timbers then the battens laid and nailed on top, being that they are only 2x1 inch that leaves a very small gap for any bird to get through, only 1 inch.

Youy may perhaps be referring to some other covering on the inside of the loft roof timbers which would give plenty of room for birds to nest, as roof timbers can be around 6x2 inches on average.

If it is definitely as you first stated i would think it more likely to be a mouse, they can seem to squeeze in anywhere.

Ian

[arenaman]

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

arenaman,

Firstly welcome to our little home and perhaps you could just confirm something.

To have birds between the tiles and felt seems a bit odd to me, usually the felt is laid on the roof timbers then the battens laid and nailed on top, being that they are only 2x1 inch that leaves a very small gap for any bird to get through, only 1 inch.

Youy may perhaps be referring to some other covering on the inside of the loft roof timbers which would give plenty of room for birds to nest, as roof timbers can be around 6x2 inches on average.

If it is definitely as you first stated i would think it more likely to be a mouse, they can seem to squeeze in anywhere.

Ian

Thanks for the warm welcome, regarding the "felt" maybe the term's wrong, I mean the normal black sheeting stuff you see when you're in the loft looking up at the roof (typical new(ish) build). It sounded too loud to be on the roof or in the gutter outside but wasn't inside if you know what I mean, I've just made the assumption that the critters are in some void between. I hope that explains it.

And would a mouse churp? lol

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by arenaman

Thanks for the warm welcome, regarding the "felt" maybe the term's wrong, I mean the normal black sheeting stuff you see when you're in the loft looking up at the roof (typical new(ish) build). It sounded too loud to be on the roof or in the gutter outside but wasn't inside if you know what I mean, I've just made the assumption that the critters are in some void between. I hope that explains it.

And would a mouse churp? lol

The felt always sags between the rafters so plenty of room. And if your tiles are pantiles or contoured ones then even more space. Could be just birds taking up a winter roost there, or sparrows bagging a nesting spot for the spring. I have a marsh tit and a blue tit roosting in that position in my house, and maybe more, but just by chance spotted them. It's been too cold to hang around outside in the evening monitoring exactly who and where they are roosting. But I will do when it gets a bit warmer.

[diggleken]

My bet is Starlings - its that time of year.
Contact your local authority, but you may not be able to do much if in breeding season, so hurry.
Cheers
Ken

[arenaman]

I've found some "evidence" this morning that it is birds, fibres from my doormat have been pulled out again, I've seen the crows doing this before. Something may be building a nest. Then again there's nothing seen or heard this morning,I'm hoping they were just sheltering under the eaves. I'll just have to monitor things

[Jason Green]

Hi AM, thanks for the update. If it is nest building it is most likely Pigeons or Doves at this time of year.