Nestbox camera

[highup]

I put up a nesting box on the wall severall years back and this is the first time we have blue tits nesting.

Today I observed them bringing insects back in the regular intervals which suggests there are hungry babies in the box.

I regret not fitting nestbox camera earlier. Would a quick operation to fit the camera upset the birds? I guess it would take 5 mins or so to fit it under the lid.

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by highup

I regret not fitting nestbox camera earlier. Would a quick operation to fit the camera upset the birds? I guess it would take 5 mins or so to fit it under the lid.

What else would you have to do after fitting the camera - how do you plan to set it up so that you can watch the action? I don't understand how you could do all this within five minutes - why not start planning for next year instead?

[highup]

nah I will not bother them, the box is just above my son's room window and it is interesting enough to watch parents bringing the food.

I visited the local ecology park today and they have nestbox camera, it was interesting to watch baby tits. I will get the camera for the next season.

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by highup

nah I will not bother them, the box is just above my son's room window and it is interesting enough to watch parents bringing the food.

I visited the local ecology park today and they have nestbox camera, it was interesting to watch baby tits. I will get the camera for the next season.

I think this is the right decision - and if you go to our website you have a choice of webcams to watch! There are recently hatched chicks in Box 2, but Boxes 1 and 3 are not far behind.

[Elizabeth B]

The eggs in Boxes 1 and 3 started hatching yesterday!

[highup]

Nice :-)

What camera would you recommend, I want to be able to connect it to the laptop and there is no need for more than 3m cable?

Would any webcam do?

Thank you

[Elizabeth B]

You can read about our set-up if you go to the Technical page of our website - our cameras are from a company that sells camera equipped boxes. We have two of these, then my husband designed and built a third box, using one of their cameras. There must be plenty of cameras in a wide range of prices - but we have no experience of these.

[highup]

Well not heaving the camera in the box and the box hanging just outside the window whenever I can spare some time I watch parents bringing the insects.

I read all blue tit material I could get hold of on the internet and I learnt about their deadly enemies one of them being great spotted woodpecker. I would not expect to see it in the suburban London, therefore I was stunned today when he showed up on the roof just above the nesting box.

My first reaction was - what do I do now? Let the nature have its course or save the baby chicks. Well the next thing I was shouting to my wife to come up, surely my son was faster. By the time my wife barged in, she jumped straight on the bed and scared the creature away.

The box is made of exterior plywood and I remember heaving really tough time cutting the entrance whole for the tits. It is 5 or 6 years old. The box is also quite deep, so GSW would not be able to put its head in and pull the chicks out.

Is there any reason to be concerned and should I take any actions to make the chicks safer? I believe they hatched on May 1st so they should be due out some time towards the end of next week.

[actionfinch]

Sorry to go off topic , Elizabeth B but i went onto your website ( again) and downloaded the avocet puzzle .. how cool is that ...
Again sorry to go off topic

love the pics .. and by was that a big catterpillar

[Elizabeth B]

Thanks, actionfinch. That avocet picture is one of my favourites - they're such elegant birds. I'm glad you downloaded the jigsaw puzzle - I had planned to add more puzzles, but there has been very little interest so I've given up on the idea.