|
Post by pete11 on Oct 9, 2022 16:28:16 GMT
Happy October everyone Just cleaned out the main tree box and was amazed to see how tall and dense the BT nest was. Around 3 inches deep at least. I've put a 28mm plate on the front of the box for the coming season - hope I haven't jinxed anything! I also looked into the robin box with the aim of clearing out the nest from it, but the nest had already been pulled out and was hanging in the ivy below. Not sure if that means something's been roosting in there or if it's just fallen out. Anyway I took the old bits of nest away, trimmed a few bits of ivy back to clear the view, and left it. Wishing you all good luck for the coming months.
|
|
|
Post by pete11 on Oct 9, 2022 16:40:11 GMT
Just to add...so busy work-wise over the summer I've had zero time to spare to look into upgrading any of my camera/network stuff. As time is ticking away I'm not sure I'll be able to get around to dabbling in raspberry pi stuff or any different cameras this year. We shall see. But if I get another year like the one just gone I'll be delighted anyway, even if it's all the same kind of pictures again Fingers crossed!
|
|
|
Post by pete11 on Oct 15, 2022 16:11:15 GMT
Since clearing out the old BT nest I've started checking the motion detection alerts on my phone app and these show at least one BT taking a more or less daily venture into the box to have a quick peck about and look around. Can't help thinking these little visits must've been happening before, too, with the old nest still in situ, but I wasn't monitoring it so will never know! Oh well, some interest still shown, so hurray for that.
|
|
|
Post by sammi on Oct 16, 2022 9:30:22 GMT
Wow Pete that is a deep nest. I wondered if they have a preferred distance to the entrance. It's incredible. Can't wait for next year. Good luck
|
|
|
Post by pete11 on Nov 30, 2022 8:35:39 GMT
Since my last post I've had the camera on in the box and it's clearly the case that BTs start checking things out much earlier than I thought they did. Pretty much every warm/sunny morning this autumn my motion detection alerts show a BT popping into the box for a quick tour. But they also show that yesterday morning a male BT popped in and then waited patiently for a female to come in, too....alas the motion detection only triggers a short video recording so I don't know if she actually entered the box but she definitely had a long peek inside while at the entrance (while male was doing the classic hunkering down thing on the floor of the box).
Wonder if this weird mild November weather is affecting their cycle at all, or if it's just pretty normal behaviour at this time of year.
|
|
|
Post by Ann70 on Nov 30, 2022 9:44:25 GMT
Hi Pete I’ve noticed the blue tits very busy checking out the boxes and about in prs. It’s usual here that I see this on and off until the real season It’s a wonder the birds don’t nest earlier with all this mild weather and plenty of food up in the trees with the leaves still in situ Must be very confusing for them 😊
|
|
|
Post by karenupnorth on Dec 1, 2022 13:01:12 GMT
Hiya Pete. They usually begin showing interest around December were I am and have already seen some flirting up in the trees by the males. All good signs lets hope 2023 is a good one for the birds and us.
|
|
|
Post by pete11 on Feb 27, 2023 9:05:16 GMT
Hi all - just checking in for the first time in a while. Since my last post I've had loads of visits from a pair of BTs especially on sunnier warmer days. However, earlier this month my camera went completely dead. I think maybe the extreme cold coupled with maybe some unusual condensation or something caused it to develop a fault. It just wasn't turning on or doing anything. But the lovely people at Green Feathers have come to the rescue and I think a replacement is winging its way to me as I write. I did have to retrieve the faulty camera from the nest box a week ago, which involved climbing up a ladder, taking the box down, unscrewing everything and then desperately putting it all back together again (minus the camera) and mounted up the tree before it got dark! Since then, I may be being paranoid, but I haven't seen as many BT visits going on.... it could just be that this is one of those times they just sort of vanish for a while and go under the radar - it's been pretty dull and chilly weather, too, so probably not ideal visiting conditions. I'll just have to hope my up-and-down-the-ladder-removing-replacing-the-nest-box activity doesn't put them off this year
|
|
|
Post by Ann70 on Feb 27, 2023 11:34:44 GMT
They will be back plenty of time and the weather is still cold and wet They are the best judge of all things considered for when it’s the right time It’s us humans that are eagerly waiting for the real action
You see activity one day then expect it every day only to be disappointed well I am 🤔 Can’t wait for things to happen 😊
|
|
|
Post by pete11 on Feb 27, 2023 13:11:48 GMT
They will be back plenty of time and the weather is still cold and wet They are the best judge of all things considered for when it’s the right time It’s us humans that are eagerly waiting for the real action You see activity one day then expect it every day only to be disappointed well I am 🤔 Can’t wait for things to happen 😊 Yep! You're so right! I'm remembering this from last year... the little BTs are oblivious of the stress and tension they're causing us!
|
|
|
Post by Ann70 on Feb 27, 2023 13:19:35 GMT
Exactly
|
|
|
Post by johnb2023 on Feb 27, 2023 14:02:50 GMT
I did have to retrieve the faulty camera from the nest box a week ago, which involved climbing up a ladder, taking the box down, unscrewing everything and then desperately putting it all back together again (minus the camera) and mounted up the tree before it got dark! Hi Pete, am I right in saying you've had that camera for 2 years then before signs of a problem? Not too bad if so (by modern standards). The 3 year warranty sealed the deal for me. Did you leave it powered all that time? Also, out of curiosity, do you conceal the wires and camera internally?
|
|
|
Post by suep on Feb 28, 2023 15:02:41 GMT
Good luck Pete, hope new camera up and working. Has made me wonder whether to change mine on the ‘just in case’ basis as have had my camera (albeit without much use 😂) for three or four years. Hope all goes well for you in the coming season. Sue
|
|
|
Post by pete11 on Mar 1, 2023 8:23:52 GMT
New camera arrived yesterday so grabbed the chance to install it asap - took me 2 hours of faffing, up and down the ladder a few times battling with the stiff fencing wire I'm using to secure the box in place. Also forgot to put the SD card in first time so had to go back up the ladder again, unscrew bits off the nestbox front, loosen the camera bracket, then take several attempts to squeeze the card into the back of the camera (including dropping the little card and seeing it tumble away down to the ground)...etc etc It was a real workout Anyway all now installed and seems to be running fine. In answer to other questions - yes I had it installed for 2 yrs running and powered on for pretty much the whole of that time. Just the occasional depower/repower when I needed the outdoor socket for mowing the lawn or power tools! And no I don't conceal the camera inside ... BTs have flown up and investigated the area where the camera and wires are many times but everything still worked fine up until the major fault.
|
|
|
Post by karenupnorth on Mar 1, 2023 8:41:50 GMT
Glad you got sorted and all is working ready for the season! I know how you feel one of my boxes is up a tree and maintenance can be hard work. Good luck hope you get lots of interest.
|
|
|
Post by Ann70 on Mar 1, 2023 8:58:02 GMT
I’m sure by the end of today you will have had a visit to your new camera box Glad you got a good workout it will all be worth it 😊
|
|
|
Post by pete11 on Mar 1, 2023 10:03:53 GMT
You're not wrong Quick visit by the local BT pair just now - male went inside to check up on things. Slightly different picture quality with the new camera - not convinced I've got the focus bang on either. Oh well, it'll do for now!
|
|
|
Post by Ann70 on Mar 1, 2023 11:17:40 GMT
Excellent news good luck Pete😊
|
|
|
Post by pete11 on Mar 1, 2023 21:20:09 GMT
Well, well, well... I've been mucking about this evening with looking at RTSP streams from my main camera and also the other camera in my smaller side-view box which went up last year but got no takers, despite a fair few visits. I hadn't looked at my side-view box camera at all since last May. But looking tonight for the first time, I have a BT rooster! No idea how long this little one's been kipping in this box... I suppose it could have been months ago. Does this mean the side-view box is going to be used for nesting, or is it just a convenient sleeping place? Only time will tell. It's slightly annoying because the camera in this box is more tricky to record (its a Gardennature one with a very hi-res quality which causes my poor powerline adapter+router combination to max out periodically due to all the data whooshing through). Oh well, guess I'll have to see what I can do! Here's a screenshot of the rooster tonight:
|
|
|
Post by Ann70 on Mar 2, 2023 6:42:26 GMT
Sounds promising for you with two camera boxes I have had my first rooster last year but box wasn’t used but in many many cases on here the rooster box on here is used it will be interesting to see what happens Good luck 😊
|
|
|
Post by suep on Mar 2, 2023 10:24:02 GMT
Lovely pic of your rooster Pete. Can’t wait for the season to progress and see everyone’s nests etc. Listen to me - wishing my life away again . Good luck. Sue
|
|
|
Post by karenupnorth on Mar 2, 2023 10:49:37 GMT
Lovely to see the rooster Pete. Definitely a good sign for things ahead, it looks as though he/she hasnt been roosting long going by the lack of poo, unless its a female who do tend to clean up after themselves.
|
|
|
Post by pete11 on Mar 2, 2023 17:05:58 GMT
Lovely to see the rooster Pete. Definitely a good sign for things ahead, it looks as though he/she hasnt been roosting long going by the lack of poo, unless its a female who do tend to clean up after themselves. LOL good detective work there, observing the poop levels! Very good point.
|
|
|
Post by pete11 on Mar 2, 2023 20:12:06 GMT
Hmm, after all last night's excitement, no roosting BT so far tonight - it's just gone 8pm - so I guess last night was either a little experiment, or the BT is choosing various different places to kip at this early point in the season?
|
|
|
Post by karenupnorth on Mar 3, 2023 8:00:47 GMT
I know when I have had a rooster they can disappear for a night or two, Im sure he /she will be back.
|
|