Daylight Robbery - bird psychology

[rangersarah2]

Hello All

We have a bird nesting box with a camera in it, and have been witnessing some curious behaviour which I'm hoping someone can explain:

A pair of great tits liked the look of the accommodation and started bringing nesting material. As soon as they left to get more a blue tit came in and stole it. This has been going on for about three weeks. Yesterday the great tits had finally managed to make a lovely nest and laid two eggs, but the blue tit has removed all of the nesting material again - even rolling the eggs out of the way to get the last bits. I've had a look in the area around the box and can't find any sign of the material, so have to assume that the blue tit has taken it further afield.

The only explanation that we can think of is that the blue tit is trying to steal the nest box, but I've never seen these battles go this far. Does anyone have a better idea?

[Gill Catton]

Perhaps it's just actually stealing the nest material for it's own nest- far easier to let someone else collect it up! Quite ingenious really!!