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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 21, 2019 11:25:10 GMT
She certainly giving the lad a run around, she definitely wears the trousers.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 21, 2019 18:41:20 GMT
Here is a pic of the female Looks like she is relaxed
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Post by elle on Feb 21, 2019 22:36:46 GMT
She looks really relaxed in there Karen, good signs
Elle Xx
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 22, 2019 9:39:50 GMT
Activity started early this morning, male popped in and actually looked like he had a purpose, he was having a chip here and there, worked quite a bit on the entrance hole, female was nearby and looked in through hole. Will see what the day holds It is beginning to appear they may have signed the tenancy agreement but wont count my chickens yet
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 22, 2019 13:17:04 GMT
Well got to say I am feeling pretty deflated Despite the flurry of visits in the past few days to the tree box (actually since January)and nest wriggles and chipping, except the one visit this morning which I posted there has only been feeding in the garden, I know next door have a box which I can see has had past use and has been in situ a long time, I cant see it directly but I know the area it is in and could see the BTs popping down every so often, at first I thought they were going to the bird table but something about their behaviour made me investigate, I can see the reflection of the bird box in the window from the garden so had a look when I saw one go down and sure enough it was investigating the box . I know it is still early days and they may still be looking but I have a feeling they have chosen it, the female seems to be going in more. Oh well, I guess time will tell.
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Post by matt on Feb 22, 2019 13:32:34 GMT
I think we need to keep reminding ourselves just how early it is Karen! Looking back at my diary from last year, I got quite a few inspections inside the box at the very end of Feb through early March and then nothing much at all for three weeks - just quick visits to the outside of the box only, every few days. But they had made their choice early on it seems and were just checking that everything was still in order (well - that's my theory!) and then they finally came back in April to get building. I wouldn't be giving up any hope just yet..
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 22, 2019 13:53:51 GMT
Thats true Matt, as I say time will tell, still feel a little flat right now.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 22, 2019 14:00:06 GMT
Like matt said Karen, Still very early in the season. These birds do check out every possible nest place though before picking. Believe me having as many boxes as I do have I have seen the same blue tits checking out all of them in the same day! My purple tree box as been getting unbelievable attention from early January. However its now switched, One of my side boxes is getting all the visits and the purple tree box is only getting 1 or 2 visits a day by the male. But this could change again in the coming weeks ahead of nest building, At this stage its really a guessing game of "will they won't they" I wouldn't worry to much, Even if they do prefer next doors box over yours you could end up with another pair.
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 22, 2019 14:03:57 GMT
Thanks guys, I have been saying that to myself, you never know what each day will bring.
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Post by suep on Feb 22, 2019 16:39:16 GMT
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 24, 2019 15:14:02 GMT
What a gorgeous weekend, I hope we dont pay for it later in the season. I am still getting visits perhaps a couple of look ins a day to the tree box but they are also still looking at the neighbours,there is often three together not sure whether this is a male and two females and he is looking for two homes . The males have really got brilliant plumage right now I have noticed and they puff it all up to attract the girls heart
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 24, 2019 15:23:40 GMT
I mean Karen, You could always get someone to climb over the neighbours in the middle of the night and suddenly their box disappears. I mean these things happen don't they? One minute something is there the next its gone!
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 24, 2019 15:27:04 GMT
I couldn't sleep at night! But it did go through my mind for a nano second OMG I just become a senior member
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Post by YorksherLass on Feb 24, 2019 17:07:29 GMT
Naughty thoughts you two ..... but I agree!
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 24, 2019 17:34:14 GMT
Seriously I couldnt do anything like that, but I am not keen on the positioning of their box it is quite high up the top of the fence and cats could easily sit there and take a swipe
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 24, 2019 17:52:50 GMT
I'll come and do it for you Karen, I'll still sleep easy don't worry maybe burn the fence down inside and let the box burn with it?
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 24, 2019 18:12:40 GMT
Flipping heck Paul you will get us locked up! Hope my neighbour isnt on here!!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 24, 2019 18:30:37 GMT
We could well do Karen, However your chances of a nest will improve greatly from it so its worth it! Hopefully the neighbour is about on the forum, They will know to do the right thing before they have no fence or box left.
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Post by suep on Feb 24, 2019 19:19:30 GMT
Paul, you naughty naughty boy - like your thinking though Sue
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 24, 2019 19:58:54 GMT
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Post by matt on Feb 24, 2019 20:06:48 GMT
I'm with Paul on this one
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 24, 2019 20:13:21 GMT
Hey dont encourage him Matt
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Post by elle on Feb 24, 2019 21:09:57 GMT
I’m afraid I’m with Paul as well Karen I do know exactly how you feel though Karen, one of my neighbours put up a box back to back of mine on our joining fence, and for a few years took ‘my’ birds (so to speak) away from my garden and subsequently I didn’t have a nest for quite some time . The worst thing about it was, he was visiting in our house one day when I had my tv on with camarabox, he asked what it was, so I told him. Couple of days later he was putting his box up in said position! We had been neighbours for 20 something years so I ask him to at least choose a different spot so as to at least increase both our chances, but he just laughed, What angered me the most was he wasn’t in the least bit interested in ‘bird watching’, whatsoever. Believe me, I did actually try anything I could to sabotage it, (running out everytime one landed on front etc), even enlisted the rest of family when I wasn’t in to keep an eye out , but nothing at all worked and they nested in his for a few years, I was absolutely gutted to say the least. Eventually they did come back, but I’d felt betrayed by him and the birds!! Needless to say when he said he was moving, I wasn’t sad at all My hubby did climb over fence to take it down before the new people could move in and possibly keep it!!! Took no chances there So that’s my confession, Elle xx
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 24, 2019 21:26:24 GMT
Elle, The question on my mind is that really your confession? Or is your neighbour who robbed your birds now buried in your garden somewhere and on the missing list?
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 24, 2019 22:24:34 GMT
Well Elle to be fair the neighbours box belonged to the elderly lady who lived there some 15 years before we moved in 4 years ago, she sadly died and the family now rent the house to a friend who is lovely by the way, I only found out the box was there in Autumn last year when she asked us for advice about her pond pump and I noticed it, it is literally only 10 feet away along the fence from the one Chico used last year, it is out of sight from our garden as their shed is in the way to see it. I could see it had been used over the years going by the entrance hole wear and tear. So in a way I feel even more fortunate that I got a nest last year. But it has come as a shock as literally on Thursday they were in the tree box countless times with nest wriggles and have been coming since January! Then the next day I saw them visiting next door and only came to mine twice, they have been again today but mostly the male. But anyway I understand how you felt, but I am a softy and couldnt do anything scare them in any way, I have to respect their choice, if they do choose theirs then at least they are close by and I can still feed them their waxworms to help in some way. But I have to say to watch it all play out over the fence and to hear them each day calling and seeing her come to roost etc is gonna be painful to say the least. But hey I havnt given up hope just yet
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