steve
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by steve on Mar 23, 2019 12:36:14 GMT
Hi all, well the activity on our feeders is frantic, and there are so many species coming to the feeders now, I’ve lost count of the species and numbers but, blue tits are a regular visitor and in large gangs! So, no shortage of birds but, one of my boxes has had a resident rooster, right from the real cold weather until present, or possibly two different birds? Anyway, it’s a blue tit, it comes home around 5 in the evening, and goes off around 6-30 in the morning. The bird is still using the box as a toilet too. This happened before, a bird would roost, and use the toilet, then leave in the morning, then mid morning, another bird, or possibly the same one would appear, and clean the toilet out. Now, the tennant is sleeping, and using the toilet but, no birds are cleaning up, and who could blame them lol! So, the box is quite dirty, the other box which is quite a bit further away, doesn’t seem to attract anything so far? I am hopeful though. Anyway, should I leave the dirty box at this stage and time of year, or just quickly clean it out? I’m concerned that the mess may be putting off a courting couple? Any opinions or advice? Here’s a pic of the dirty box, and one of the cleaner des res   Thanks Steve |
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 23, 2019 12:49:44 GMT
Steve,
I normally clean the poo out of my rooster boxes before nesting starts.
Judging by your box though it looks like it as some bits of material in not just poo? As the female brought material in?
Looks like abit of straw etc on the floor to me.
Your box doesn't look overly messy so she will probably just remove it herself, If you want to give her helping hand you can do.
If the box does have some material in though probably best to leave her to it.
|
|
steve
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by steve on Mar 23, 2019 12:55:30 GMT
Hi Paul, Yes I’ve been in two minds, as there’s activity in there day and night, so I couldn’t think of a safe time to clean it. I also think there is straw and other stuff appearing now, as you spotted.
Maybe I’ll leave it be then.
Thanks again Paul, I’ll update any progress.
Steve
|
|
|
|
Post by sammi on Mar 23, 2019 13:15:07 GMT
Hi Steve....you look like you have an identical story to mine. I have a pretty filthy box used by a rooster and yes occasionally Ii gets a visit by (I assume ) a female who does a bit if a clean. I also gave a pristine box on the other side of the garden that has had some interested bluetits check it out. A couple even went to the trouble of evicting two hibernating wasps but at the moment it is very quiet. I cleaned the rooster box out but it was a while ago so I'm leaving well alone now and as Paul says the female does a quick job if she decides the place is right for her. Fingers crossed you get some nesters.  |
|
steve
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by steve on Mar 23, 2019 23:46:18 GMT
Hi Sammi, Thanks, yes I think leaving it be is probably the safest option. Good luck with yours too. Steve  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2019 11:46:41 GMT
Looks identical to my blue tit box that steve. Last year the female did a pretty good job cleaning ours out.
|
|
steve
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by steve on Mar 28, 2019 20:34:24 GMT
Thanks Benn, Yes I’m glad I left it be now, as there appears to be possibly nesting material being taken in.
Steve
|
|
steve
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by steve on May 27, 2019 22:20:31 GMT
Hi all, haven’t been on for a while, been busy.
Anyway, all of a sudden the clean nest box started seeing nesting material appear, and not long after there were a pair of blue tits visiting regularly.
Then three eggs were laid but, it appeared that two blue tits were fighting, that night no birds returned, and never did again? However, a few days later, the dirtier box started seeing some action, and nest building followed. A lone blue tit was coming and going on her own, and eventually started laying.
She laid seven eggs, five hatched, one chick vanished, and she managed to feed and nurture the remaining four. They are currently doing well and getting bigger and more active now. The mother has been alone all the way through, and done a great job.
I hope all of your boxes have been active. I’ll update soon.
Regards
Steve
|
|
|
|
Post by suep on May 28, 2019 8:06:27 GMT
Shame she’s on her own (must have been a male on the scene at one time though  ). Glad chicks are thriving and love to see pic. Good luck to her and hope you see the chicks fledge successfully. Sue |
|
|
|
Post by YorksherLass on May 28, 2019 11:18:21 GMT
And then there were four .... so a shame about the others, but she is doing a great job of looking after them on her own, so good  to them & you too.  |
|
|
|
Post by sammi on May 28, 2019 21:39:51 GMT
My single female is at the moment rearing 4 out of 8 hatchlings. I'm hoping she can manage these. Good luck with yours ...it is a hard job for one parent but they certainly give it their best shot. How far are yours from fledging?
|
|
steve
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by steve on Jun 1, 2019 15:27:27 GMT
Well, not long after my last post, we only noticed three mouths showing at feed times. So, sadly we lost another one, not sure why?. I noticed reading other threads that losses are high this year, and as always mostly unexplained? My remaining three seem to be doing very well now, and probably not far from fledging, as at least two of them, keep looking out of the entrance/exit. Mum is not in the box as much now, although still tentative. when I re stocked the feeders, I put extra mealworms out too. I hope everybody that has surviving chicks left, get to see them fledge. good luck to you all. speak soon Steve    |
|
|
|
Post by YorksherLass on Jun 1, 2019 16:10:57 GMT
I'm sorry to read that you've lost another chick Steve - again, a horrible year.  I hope all goes OK for the remaining three. |
|
|
|
Post by suep on Jun 1, 2019 16:36:08 GMT
So sorry you’ve lost another chick Steve, seems to be the way this year. Hopefully the rest will fledge successfully. Sue |
|
steve
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by steve on Jun 2, 2019 7:30:30 GMT
Thanks all, good news is, they fledged early this morning. So another three join the Blue Tit population! We’ll miss them though. I am designing new boxes for next year, and will look for different camera options I think. Our cameras have been pretty good but, room for improvement. Sammi, sorry I forgot to reply, how are yours doing? How long should I wait before cleaning out the boxes? Steve |
|
|
|
Post by sammi on Jun 2, 2019 7:41:16 GMT
Great news they fledged safely. Mine have at least 5 days to go yet. Still have 4 chicks so hopefully they'll make it. I leave my boxes until the autumn normally.
|
|
|
|
Post by Beechnut on Jun 2, 2019 8:14:25 GMT
At least you got a fledge Steve, this year it seems that many BTs are not making it to the 'end game'.
I think the recommendation for boxes is to leave until September.
|
|
|
|
Post by suep on Jun 2, 2019 9:59:36 GMT
So pleased the final three have fledged safely for you Steve,    Sue |
|
steve
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by steve on Jun 2, 2019 11:28:58 GMT
Thanks all. Sammi, I hope yours make the final push, fingers crossed for you.
I just wish my other box nesting hadn’t been cut short, as there’s definitely a low fledge rate this year. I think because we have so many BT’s visiting, the other box that is around 40’ away from the other, may still be to close in the territory? I did make the entrance bigger on that box, hoping to attract the Great Tits but, we have so many BT’s I just think it was bad luck. I may move that box, and take the front panel off for Robins next year.
Anyway, I’ll leave the boxes till Sept.
Thanks all, and good luck.
Steve
|
|
|
|
Post by YorksherLass on Jun 2, 2019 11:55:10 GMT
|
|
steve
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by steve on Oct 9, 2019 18:48:44 GMT
Hi all, hope everybody is good. I cleaned my boxes out last month, found two unhatched eggs in the one that produced chicks, a bit sad but at least some survived and fledged. We saw the babies on the feeders which was great. The other box where both parents fled, had seven eggs untouched. Great shame, and I don’t know what caused them to abandon but, hoping for more next year. One of the boxes has had a blue tit roosting in it, the last three nights, so already looking promising. Speak soon Steve  |
|
|
|
Post by matt on Oct 10, 2019 22:02:52 GMT
Good luck Steve! Are your cameras on now? I am also primed and ready, with 4x boxes and cameras all on and waiting. A little impatient, I know!
|
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Oct 11, 2019 10:54:13 GMT
Great you've got a rooster Ste, Won't be long now before it all starts again! Where did 2019 go?  |
|
steve
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by steve on Oct 11, 2019 18:03:05 GMT
Oct 10, 2019 23:02:52 GMT 1 matt said: Good luck Steve! Are your cameras on now? I am also primed and ready, with 4x boxes and cameras all on and waiting. A little impatient, I know! Hi Matt, yes all rigged up and ready, although I’m still thinking of new cameras. Mine are good resolution but, we get a fair bit of noise feedback form the mics. I’ll see how they go in the next couple of months Hi Paul, yes I was surprised as I’d not long cleaned the boxes, and this was a brand new box I made a few weeks back. And yes, how fast has this year gone! |
|
steve
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by steve on May 20, 2020 10:10:19 GMT
Hi all, well things are much better this year, although one box saw an egg laid and no more activity, similar to last year, so I will move that box.
The other box saw nine eggs laid, and nine hatched, and unlike last year where only the mother was present, this year both parents are working hard. The chicks are doing very well and very close to fledging.
I hope all of yours are doing well too.
Bye for now
Steve.
|
|
). Glad chicks are thriving and love to see pic. Good luck to her and hope you see the chicks fledge successfully.
to them & you too. 
I hope all goes OK for the remaining three. 
