cam box

[suntrecker]

Wonder what members think, in one of my books on birds it says to block the entrance hole in the nest box in winter so that in spring a family can use the box (the roosting bird over laps the start of the breeding season.
We have 10 nest box's around our garden so things are not as bad as it sounds in that birds still have roosting box's for the winter. The reason for my question is that the box with the camera was taken for roosting (great) but when the blue tits started looking for a box to raise a family they found the box being used and just after that the roosting bird then gave up the box. This was then too late for the nesting season. As I say we have a lot of box's for birds to roost over the winter its just that we would love to watch a family being brought up as we have in last years season and of course want to do the right thing. I admit to not like reading " blocking the hole" so this is the reason for my post.

[Elizabeth B]

I certainly wouldn't block up the holes in winter - and I've never heard this suggestion before. We don't often get birds roosting during the winter, but our three boxes are always available. I know a fair number of people who've had "roosters" but they've never had the problem you mention.

[Tursiops2]

Why not experiment? Block five boxes over the winter, leave five open, and see which ones have nests next year.

T2

[werdnal]

Having counted aboiut 12 wrens packing themselves into one of our camera nestboxes over the coldest part of last winter, I would definately NOT block a nest box to prevent roosting. The smallest birds, particularly wrens, depend on this type of roost for their very survival. I am appaled that any book would suggest such a thing.

Some tits may roost in a box over the winter, then choose to make their home there in spring anyway - my guess is they think its safe and securely got them through the harsh cold months, so makes a suitable safe nest site.