Post by Bluetitkeeper on Mar 11, 2019 18:11:40 GMT
Hi all,
Good to be back for a new season and on the new forum!
As is usual with my small garden, I only have a few projects going compared to some of you pros on here. I have the same male Bluetit from last year with a new female who have claimed my nestbox again. He roosted all Winter in the nextdoor neighbours roof, but last years female was never seen after the breeding season again. He paired up in January and she took over his roost spot. The evenings I do see them go to roost, he actually roosts far away, down a block or two. Any reasons why they would never roost in Winter in the nestbox?
Now they guard the nestbox, female tapping around the entrance and inside, waiting to start building the nest. I suspect it’s too cold, wet and windy to start!
I have a Robin nestbox up with no takers yet.
Also, I have a Bumblebee nestbox out, but I will have more luck winning the lotto then them using it. Hope they prove me wrong!
I have a pair of Bluetits this year instead of Great tits in my work nestbox (put metal plate restriction on for Great tits). Nice to have 2x pairs to compare nesting behaviour and timings.
Some photos of my nestboxes to follow...
I had great success feeding during the Winter using some hanging basket brackets off the shed for feeders and a ground feeder. White Sunflower hearts, Peanuts, Fat balls, Seeds mixes and Mealworms were all used. A few flocks of Long tailed tits and Coal tits were the real highlights. I stopped feeding in February, as the nesting season started up, so my Blue tits won’t get stressed fighting away other birds all the time.
I had issues with my nestbox camera setup and sold it on as the breeding season came to end last year. Hoping to start something soon again on this front...
Some videos salvaged of last season 2018...
Great tits feeding chicks 12/5/18.
Blue tit chicks hatched- 28/5/18.
Bluetit feeding chicks- 11/6/18.
Bluetit chick fed at entrance- 13/6/18.
Bluetit chick pushed off entrance- 13/6/18.
Bluetit adults feeding- 13/6/18.
Bluetit chick on lookout- 13/6/18.
Bluetit chicks fledging- 14/6/18.