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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 28, 2020 11:52:21 GMT
GBH, This is BRILLIANT! I am glad activity is so strong for you, For the female to be cleaning the box mine she is pretty interested and wants it. Looks like this year will be the year you get a nest, After all these years of waiting! That new house really did bring you luck! how are you settling in? hopefully everythings run smoothly for you. Good luck with the new season, I am so pleased for you.
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Jan 28, 2020 14:17:34 GMT
Thanks folks....yes, I think its been 8 years or could it possibly be more that I've been waiting - I've lost count???? Could this be my year at last? Another update - there appears to be two birds cleaning out the poo?? - it was hard to spot but I watched carefully now have confirmed from viewing the outside of the box, that as one went out, the other went in - both were taking droppings with them. Does the male clean up too? She/They are still busy at it....just a little picture of the progress so far - now that I remembered how to upload pics!!! lol!! : Edited to say: Settled in nicely - thanks Paul... we really love our new house and while it wasn't our first or second choice, it certainly has proven to be the BEST choice....."Whats meant for you will not pass you by" eh!!!
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Post by sammi on Jan 28, 2020 20:37:22 GMT
Hi GBH I always assumed it was just the female who cleaned up. Maybe she has issued an ultimatum to Maurice....'help me clear up this mess or else!' Or maybe you have two females trying to impress. You deserve a nest after all that time🤞🤞
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Post by petesbox on Jan 28, 2020 21:57:28 GMT
Good to see your back GBH, i have a female BT who has just taken over roosting in my box from a male ( who left a big mess of droppings) she has been cleering it up all morning.
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Jan 29, 2020 11:49:24 GMT
OMG!!!!
First bit of nesting material has been brought in!!! Can't contain my excitement.
I thought my two birds had fallen out of love last night, as what I believe to be the female attempted to roost in this box for the first time....but Maurice arrived a few seconds later and got the shock of his life.....so he was having none of that....there was no real aggression towards her, but he kicked her out with lots of loud chirping and wing flapping he sent her on her way.
She tried to come back in a second time but again, he chased her off. No fighting though....hope that doesn't happen!!! I'd hate that.
Edited to add the video of females failed roosting attempt!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 29, 2020 12:36:56 GMT
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! So f--king pleased for you, Her bringing some material in says everything, It seems like alot females are overtaken male boxes this week on here. Looking good year for the forum, I am glad everyone is getting so much attention already off female birds.
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Post by karenupnorth on Jan 29, 2020 13:01:52 GMT
Thats wonderful,GBH.
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Post by matt on Jan 29, 2020 13:43:53 GMT
Fab news GBH! Everything crossed here that this - finally - is going to be the year for you!!
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Jan 30, 2020 15:07:10 GMT
Just another 1st for my bird box....
1st "nesting shuffle" in the box...and there has been alot more of this all day.
That piece of twig that was brought in yesterday has been removed also.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 30, 2020 17:44:16 GMT
Bless her, She probably can't wait to get going!
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Post by sammi on Jan 31, 2020 16:01:19 GMT
Yipeee Things are certainly looking good. I had a half shuffle today in one box. And I knew I'd spoken too soon regarding wasps as I had one in the roosters box. I'm not sure if its left or not but the rooster gave it a good shouting at last night🤞🙂
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Post by suep on Feb 16, 2020 22:14:52 GMT
Hi GBH, I am so excited about the activity at your new address. It seems birdie luck has moved in with you. Please please let it be your year for a nest Sue
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Post by elle on Feb 21, 2020 21:50:45 GMT
Hi GBH, I too have my fingers tightly crossed for you, let’s hope like Sue has said, your new address will be lucky one Elle xx
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Post by Amanda on Feb 23, 2020 20:57:10 GMT
Hey, looking good for you you get a nest
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 9, 2020 7:57:13 GMT
Hi Folks, Just popping in to say hello....and give a bit of an update. So, its been a busy few weeks, so much going on in the long box to the side of my house. Plenty of visits and activity...its been such a thrill to watch. Not so much activity in the front sideways box, just fleeting head pokes, but I do notice interest is picking up marginally there in the past week, with a great tit looking in, and also with a starling who wishes he was a bit smaller and tries and tries to squeeze in....top marks for persistence there!!! The bad bit: On one of the nights some week ago there was so much interest in the long box that there was two birds trying to roost there...this was brewing over a few nights, and Maurice managed to fend the other bird off each time, but unfortunately one night it led to a very brutal fatal fight....really difficult to watch. Could not believe that these little birds could be so vicious. I cannot tell if it was Maurice attacking or being attacked....The fight went on about 30mins - they actually seemed to have gone to sleep midway, holding onto each other for a full 20 mins, neither giving up, but panting in exhaustion. Finally it ended with one managing to get away and the other staying. The box was full of feathers. So, one ended up winning and roosting the night and the other was found dead under the box the next day. Must have died from wounds inflicted. After the fight, there was no daily clean up activity like before, and I now suspect that it was the female that was actually killed and not Maurice. As Maurice was back roosting again, with no cleaner, the box was beginning to get dirty again, and with the feathers still there it was an awful sight. The good bit: About 2 weeks later, I noticed activity had resumed with cleaning out the box, and all the fight feathers had finally been removed, with some serious floor cleaning taking place. Then on Friday 6th March, the first real amount of nesting material was brought in. Small bits of fluffy moss, and a little bit more brought in each day since. This female is intent on cleaning scrupulously and spends long sessions pecking at the floor removing all the last of the roosting residue. Then another change happened last night...."Maurice" returned to the box quite late - about 6:35pm, stayed a short while at the entrance looking all around him, then, he appeared to allow another bird to land on the entrance....and then he left. Didn't return? The other bird, must be female as she was so much smaller and fatter than Maurice, stayed for a minute but flew off too...and didn't actually roost. So, last night, for the first time since 25th October, I had no rooster in the box. I'm quite sad about this, and missed him, but hoping that its just Maurice paving the way for the female to be encouraged to start building more seriously. Do the wintering roosters just leave the box like that? I imagine that they don't stay in there all year?
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 9, 2020 8:16:12 GMT
Fight night.....the downside of being able to see into the boxes.
My long view box as it is this morning - Mrs has already been in and getting busy for the day.
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 9, 2020 8:33:54 GMT
Awe so sorry about the little female bless her, I cant stand to watch them fighting it really is awful. I too have a rooster and wonder when he will leave, the box is getting daily visits from a few pairs. Congrats on the moss its getting exiting now
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Post by sammi on Mar 9, 2020 9:32:29 GMT
Hi GBH Thanks so much for the updates. Such a shame these fights are so vicious. I suppose the escaping bird is exhausted and more prone to everything once out of the safety of the box. So sad. It is strange too that fights happen between sexes. I have fight feathers in my patio box but I didn't witness this last one. Hopefully it will all settle down soon. Good news on your nest though. A starling too! Will you be getting another box soon 🤣🤣🐦
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 9, 2020 11:29:10 GMT
Brilliant news GBH, So glad this is happening for you after the years of waiting!
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Post by Amanda on Mar 9, 2020 11:33:28 GMT
Awww.....that is sad to hear about your female They really are vicious aren’t they. I had 2 major fights in my garage box and the rooster disappeared and not had one in since. I missed that one, I always check to make sure they are in of an evening. The garage box had gone quiet now and not had many visits this passed week. Good news that you have some nesting material in, fingers crossed it leads to a nest. Its a bit gloomy here weather wise and not much activity.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2020 11:58:32 GMT
Good news for you GBH. No need to worry about the roosting stopping. My male has stopped roosting and his female is cleaning up his winter mess. He won't be too far away. Mine is now using our house martin nests around the corner.
Fights can be brutal! They make me think that this is how their Dinosaur ancestors used to fight.
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Post by suep on Mar 9, 2020 15:19:34 GMT
So sad about the little blue tits demise GBH, but very glad it looks like a nest is on its way for you. I am dreading this scenario happening here as I definitely have a pair of blue tits interested . The female cleaning out my roosters poo BUT my rooster is not her partner and I fear it may come to a fight if my rooster doesn’t soon leave. How do I politely tell my rooster ‘get out before you are pushed’? If only we could eh. You give great updates GBH Sue
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Post by Ann70 on Mar 9, 2020 18:58:36 GMT
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 10, 2020 7:01:11 GMT
Hi all....well, my vacancy at the inn was filled....a bird came in and roosted last night!! Can't tell if it's Maurice or a different bird but nice to have it occupied again. Weather terrible so don't expect much nesting activity this week. Ps Hope you're all staying safe from this Covid 19 spread. Bit scary!!!
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Post by sammi on Mar 10, 2020 13:56:28 GMT
Glad you've got a rooster again. I'm thinking self isolation won't be so bad if it happens so long as there is some action in our boxes🤣🤞
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