blue tit

[spesa]

Somebody help
A blue tit (female I presume ) is making a nest in a box on my garage, coming and going all the time, but she is on her own ! Is the male coming later in the process or the whole thing is going to fail ?
Thanks

[Elizabeth B]

The male could be "lying low" for a while - we've sometimes had very attentive males during the nest building process, who were not too good when there were chicks to be fed, and sometimes this situation was quite the opposite. It could well turn out fine - and right now it's much to soon to give up hope.

[Cowgirl]

He'll be 'down the pub' while she does all the work,

[Dogghound]

The male helps in the nest building, he may be coming earlier or later in the day, its more likely you are missing him. He has only has a slightly brighter blue crown in flight can be hard to tell them apart.

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

The male helps in the nest building, he may be coming earlier or later in the day, its more likely you are missing him. He has only has a slightly brighter blue crown in flight can be hard to tell them apart.

According to various reference books, it's the female bluetit that builds the nest!

We've been watching bluetits since 2001 (via webcams) and this is the first year that we've ever seen a male helping - and this was a "token offering" of a piece of hay to the female when she was in the box. We think she was expecting to be given (as usual) a titbit - but she did take it.

[Dogghound]

Yes sorry the female builds the nest but like your's the ones here seem to both bring material. I hadnt read into it (until now) and just assumed this was normal. Although as you say this appears not to be the case, which may explain the males absence in the OP.

[spesa]

many thanks for your answer ! I think the nest must be almost complete by now! She's in and out of the box no stop. But no sign of any male around. Who is going to fertilize the eggs ???

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by spesa

Who is going to fertilize the eggs ???

I wouldn't worry too much about it - if she's gone to the trouble of finishing the nest then she is likely to have a partner around somewhere!
Until the eggs have hatched you probably won't find both of the pair around the box at the same time.

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by spesa

many thanks for your answer ! I think the nest must be almost complete by now! She's in and out of the box no stop. But no sign of any male around. Who is going to fertilize the eggs ???

We've had this worry for a while now - but today the male came in to feed her. We've usually found that once the female is incubating, the male visits frequently to feed her.

[spesa]

Incredible ! Exactly like the the manual ! The nest is finished and she's on a branch just in front of it flapping her wings and a slightly larger blue tit is feeding her. Made my day !!!
Angelo