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Post by blueeyedchick on Mar 15, 2019 13:30:08 GMT
Wonder why the Starlings have been put off by your new box Benn any ideas?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2019 13:50:04 GMT
Wonder why the Starlings have been put off by your new box Benn any ideas? Dunno, Just might be too much change and the rooster did not like it. I have noticed they are roosting in the plastic capped ends of the roofs of next door and next door but one. I am hoping these are too small to nest in. Might be the LED light. If there are no takers this season I might remove it next year.
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Post by blueeyedchick on Mar 15, 2019 14:02:40 GMT
I have refrained from using LED Benn. Our electrical supplier says they have a down side. They contain a small amount of lead and arsenic particles and if they are broken might be a problem. As an installation company we have to dispose of them safely when they are removed from site as they are hazardous if these particles are breathed in. It is unlikely that they will get smashed in bird boxes and be a risk to our birds but as our birds are cavity nester's I have decided not to go down this avenue but to keep the lighting as low as possible. I have one window in both boxes so it doesn't spoil my enjoyment but keeps it natural as possible. Of course it is everyone's choice and this is my own preference. Hopefully they will be back with you next year!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 15, 2019 14:03:00 GMT
Can't imagine it being the led light Ben, I mean little blue tits are easy to scare and they don't mind them. A bird like a starling doesn't seem like type that would be scared or put off by abit of light! In my opinion of course. I think its probably more the fact you replaced the box with a brand new one probably give the rooster a shock. This is exactly why I won't change my sparrow box for this reason, I have put led light in though which they clearly don't mind. I think if I did a full box change like you have with the starling box though I would loose them so that isn't a risk am willing to take. You could always just put the cap over the light sensor of the led light aswell, This will stop it working until you remove the cap again. Hopefully they come back though be a shame if they don't nest this year for you after being with you that long!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 15, 2019 14:09:02 GMT
I have refrained from using LED Benn. Our electrical supplier says they have a down side. They contain a small amount of lead and arsenic particles and if they are broken might be a problem. As an installation company we have to dispose of them safely when they are removed from site as they are hazardous if these particles are breathed in. It is unlikely that they will get smashed in bird boxes but as our birds are cavity nester's I have decided not to go down this avenue but to keep the lighting as low as possible and have one window,so it doesn't spoil my enjoyment. Of course it is everyone's choice and this is my own preference. The green feather led bulbs aren't exposed to break or be cracked Kathy, They are well protected behind a case so if a bulb did ever break then it wouldn't be going into the bird box. But since they birds are unable to peck the bulbs they wouldn't really break anyway.
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Post by blueeyedchick on Mar 15, 2019 14:18:08 GMT
That's good to know Paul haven't really seen the tiny bird box ones or how they are installed. I was thinking more of our domestic LED which I do not like. I don't want to change the conditions too much in the box,I much prefer to keep the nest as natural as possible. But as I say it's personal preference.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 15, 2019 14:35:45 GMT
Of course Kathy, Its not for everyone and I respect you like to keep it as natural as possible in your boxes , But also no danger in these ones thankfully very protected would be pretty much impossible for the bird to get to the bulbs themselves. P.s sorry for this convo overtaken your topic benn
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2019 15:30:50 GMT
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 18, 2019 15:39:29 GMT
Nice work Benn!
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Post by elle on Mar 23, 2019 17:09:58 GMT
Any news at yours Benn?
When do you usually start getting interest??
Elle Xx
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2019 11:38:29 GMT
Hi Elle,
I'm afraid nothing more than our resident roosting male in our blue tit box. Even though the sun has been peeking out today it was freezing last night and there is a soul biting wind up here this morning.
We are usually a few weeks behind up here and very rarely get any building started before early to mid April. Not seeing any visits during the day does not bode well though. x
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2019 13:39:25 GMT
Just an update as I have been having Macbook issues of late. I'm afraid its looking as though I will without a nesting bird in my boxes for the first time in 20 years ......I still have a male blue tit rooster in one box, but there have been zero visits during the day. My wife did see two blue tits inspecting my new side box on the shed but that was 8 days ago and there have been no further visits. So it will probably be just the House Martins this summer and hopefully some interest in the 4 swift boxes when I start to play the attraction calls in May. I have managed to install my 16 camera DVR and the swift calling system over the last week so any visits will alarm from now on. There is some good news though. We put up another two boxes in our Moorland wood this morning bringing the total to 8. Upon inspecting the three I put up 2 years ago I found two seasons worth of moss in each so its good to know they are being used. I will just have to get my fix watching all your great video clips unless I get a late taker.
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Post by matt on Apr 12, 2019 14:02:41 GMT
Sorry to hear that Benn. I mentioned this on another thread already, but I get the distinct impression that as a group we have been somewhat less successful this year in terms of nests. Would anyone else agree? Hard to pin a number on last year (I can certainly remember one, GBH!) but this year I count six of us out of perhaps 15 in total? That's quite a percentage (I could be completely wrong about the total number, btw), and I think all, or almost all, of us without nests had one last year. Any thoughts?
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Post by suep on Apr 12, 2019 16:16:54 GMT
Hi Ben and Matt, sorry to hear no nest of yet Ben. I feel it’s still a little early to make any conclusion re numbers as still time for birds to start a nest. Having said that it has been widely reported that last years bad spring with the ‘beast from the east’ at such a critical time for the birds has decreased the bird population for this year. Fewer eggs/chicks surviving to make mating pairs for this year. Let’s hope more nest will get started and we can get the population back up . Sue
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 12, 2019 16:54:07 GMT
That is a shame Benn, You normally have a few nests going on aswell! Just shows you doesn't it nothing is set in stone really. I must admit though, BT numbers in my garden this year are really down! I only see about 4 or so regular at the moment. I remember back in 2016 I used to see around 10 on the feeders and around 20 over winter, That was back when I got the 3 blue tit nests. So seems in recent years they have dropped a fair bit around here. I hope you get a "late nester" will be a real shame if you don't get a nest this season,Unless you strike gold and get the swifts building! Keep us updated Benn, Fingers crossed for a late nester.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2019 21:38:23 GMT
Thanks all, That is the way the cookie crumbles. 2 years ago we had 4 nests on the go and my kitchen flat screen was split into 4 watching each. Neighbours and friends used to come by for a brew and stay an hour to watch the action!
But on the other hand our feeders are being deluged by Great, Blue and Coal tits, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Gold finch, Starlings, Wrens, Robins, Dunnocks, Collard Doves, Wood pigeons and a huge colony of sparrows! We were sat in the sunshine yesterday on our decking, just 3 yards from them feeding like mad.
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Post by sammi on Apr 13, 2019 9:15:56 GMT
Hi Benn...I too think it's very early in the season. I have been trying to piece together previous year's data. Last year my bluetits stopped laying on 3 May so especially with these cold snaps I don't think I'll see much action till later this month. It is really cold here today. I'm joining Sue's Optimism Club
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Post by matt on Apr 13, 2019 12:12:24 GMT
I admire your optimism Sammi!Must admit mine faded when I saw our local bluetit with a beak full of nesting material about two weeks ago..
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2019 14:53:21 GMT
Some good news and bad news! A pair of blue tits have been going in and out of the log box all morning. I put this up low down behind a fir tree to see if I could attract two coal tits who were regular visitors during March. However, although I created a recess in the lid to take a camera I planned to switch my 420 TVL camera from the open fronted Robin box sited just above above. So an hour ago I managed to fix the camera but on connecting up it was not working. Then just now I thought I'd fiddle with the wires to see if there was a dodgy connection. I thought I had just seen both birds fly off down the gardens but upon opening the box one flew out of the opened lid!!!! . What an idiot I feel. So I have probably spooked them away and the camera is bloody broken after all! Update: The male is back hanging around the box and a female has appeared but she seems less interested now. However, he seems to make himself bigger and spreads his tail out aggressively chasing any bird including his female sometimes! Will have to wait and see. Feel like a total amatuer!!! New camera just ordered though!
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Post by suep on Apr 14, 2019 15:25:23 GMT
The fact that they’re back means they haven’t been totally put off Benn Sue
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2019 15:30:35 GMT
Just feel so stupid Sue. In past experience they are only usually active in the morning. Thought things had quietened down so watched for 5 mins saw two fly away and so dashed out. He might have been chasing away a rival!
Anyhow they have been around the garden all day so there are a couple of other spare boxes for them to choose!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 14, 2019 15:31:50 GMT
Oh Benn, I do hope they come back! Maybe leave fitting a camera until night time now, Watch to make sure nobody roosts and bring it inside and do everything and take it back out.
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Post by YorksherLass on Apr 14, 2019 16:14:39 GMT
I do hope your birds come back Benn, but if a bird flew out at me like that I would have a fit (see my signature below) or a heart attack or jump back & break a leg!
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Post by elle on Apr 15, 2019 12:05:29 GMT
Oh Benn I bet you could kick yourself But as Sue said, if they’ve already been back I don’t think they would have been put off. I would certainly wait till nighttime and put camara in then! I’d have to have one in though!! good luck Benn Elle xx
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2019 10:05:25 GMT
Saw them both around the log box just now. Male went in and I think(but cannot be sure) the female flew in as I was moving rooms for a better view. Whichever , that bird was in there for a good few minutes. So there is still a chance. Perhaps I will know this weekend when we get the 20C plus temperatures predicted.
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