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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 19, 2020 19:46:57 GMT
Fair few on the forum have had first material at moment Matt, North and south. That's why I asked about the visits and things, Its weird even here though, My female in purple tree box got plenty of material in here box. But just over the front I am getting daily visits by a female, She is in the "will they wont they" stage where other one is well into building so strange with both being in same area!
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Post by matt on Mar 19, 2020 21:13:37 GMT
Yeah my theory is that it varies even depending on the local food source. I know that my local bluetits spend almost all of their time foraging in two really big oak trees two gardens over, when they are feeding their young. Maybe this is such an important food source here, that they wait for it to be in leaf before they start nesting? Just a theory, of course, but perhaps in other localities it is hawthorn or something else, and that is in leaf already (here too), so they go earlier? Or am I just trying to justify a lack of action
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 20, 2020 10:14:57 GMT
Very good point Matt.... It must have something to do with it?...maybe there are natural 'triggers' that they go by, with food being a very important one. I hope things pick up for you today and over the weekend....Spring has officially sprung today (according yesterdays Google web browser icon image anyway! - always thought it was 1st Feb!? )
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Post by matt on Mar 20, 2020 11:34:35 GMT
Today is the vernal equinox which I think some people consider the start of spring - or else meteorological spring which is 1st March. Don't know about Feb! Two years ago, when I had my only nest, she didn't start until 8th April which is still nearly 3 weeks away. Also they almost completely disappeared in the run-up to that, after visiting a lot in early March. So I reckon they chose their box and then went off to feed up for a while, then got on with it once the oak was in leaf. Just my theory, which keeps me hopeful at least for a while longer!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 20, 2020 11:48:09 GMT
Would be a shame if you went without a nest again Matt, Got everything crossed for you for the next 3 weeks.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2020 16:26:09 GMT
You are spot on Matt! Any tit worth its salt prefers the food proffered by large oaks with their abundance of insects and green caterpillars rather than foraging for spiders and other food.
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 21, 2020 7:29:13 GMT
Oaks trees were the one thing we DIDN'T plant in our garden...hmm, maybe I'll invest in a young Oak tree...I believe they take many years to grow though....still, we plant trees for the future too, not just for the present.
What is it that "they" say?: "A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit”
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Post by matt on Mar 21, 2020 9:44:09 GMT
You are spot on Matt! Any tit worth its salt prefers the food proffered by large oaks with their abundance of insects and green caterpillars rather than foraging for spiders and other food. Yeah I'm quite convinced, Benn. The oaks aren't showing any leaf yet, but will be soon. When I was watching mum feed her chicks two years ago, every single trip was to the oaks and back, so it does make sense to time chicks for then.
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Post by sammi on Mar 21, 2020 11:12:59 GMT
I was thinking if there is such a thing as a mini oak I might have room for one. Is there such a thing?
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Post by matt on Mar 21, 2020 17:08:29 GMT
Well it will probably be mini for as long as you need to worry about it!
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Post by matt on Mar 23, 2020 11:52:56 GMT
A few more long visits to a couple of boxes over the last couple of days. The vid below is almost 2 full minutes of inspection by what I am almost sure is the male, in a box that hasn't been visited for ages - just having a good look around. Also some nest wriggles (kind of) in another box (not in this video). Fingers crossed, they must be very close to making a decision!
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 23, 2020 11:56:35 GMT
Really hope they choose yours Matt, got all crossed for you
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 23, 2020 11:57:55 GMT
Ah thats great!!!! Fingers crossed!!!
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Post by petesbox on Mar 23, 2020 12:09:31 GMT
Could be promising Matt.
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Post by Amanda on Mar 23, 2020 12:35:25 GMT
Fingers crossed for you Matt lovely video of your visitor
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Post by Ann70 on Mar 23, 2020 12:59:14 GMT
oh great Matt, this is the start now for you, im so happy to hear your news
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Post by suep on Mar 23, 2020 13:26:46 GMT
So hope it’s beginning for you Matt Sue
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 23, 2020 14:15:57 GMT
Fingers crossed for you Matt
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Post by Beechnut on Mar 23, 2020 15:27:01 GMT
Here's Hoping Matt!
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Post by matt on Mar 23, 2020 15:50:32 GMT
Thanks all - fingers crossed, but still just visits at the moment so won't be breaking out the champers until a nest is built!
Here's a visit from another box this morning. This one might be a female, not sure. Less brightly coloured and less of a crest on top of the head, but the colour thing could just be the camera. Also dropping the odd frame which is annoying - must investigate.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 23, 2020 16:05:02 GMT
Looks like it could be a female to me Matt! I've noticed over the years the female is always duller than the male, Noticed this more than having led lights in the box. Got everything crossed for you!!
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Post by matt on Mar 23, 2020 16:53:49 GMT
Yeah I think so Paul. To me (and I'm no expert of course!), the females seem to have a slightly "rounder" head, be a bit duller in colour and males have slightly longer feathers on the top of their heads - not a crest as such, but almost a mini crest. Sometimes they stick up a bit more than others. There were a couple of half wiggles in my most recent vid as well, although she has done a few of them a couple of weeks ago as well so I won't read too much into it.
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Post by sammi on Mar 24, 2020 22:12:29 GMT
Well it will probably be mini for as long as you need to worry about it! That is so true Matt🤣🤣Maybe I'll plant one and call it Sammi's Folly. The video looks promising 🤞
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Post by Ann70 on Mar 25, 2020 11:04:00 GMT
is it quiet there for you as well Matt ?
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Post by matt on Mar 25, 2020 11:25:51 GMT
I'm still getting visits to a couple of the boxes first thing in the morning, then nothing else all day. No sign of any nesting materials or anything like that, but the oaks are still not in leaf so I am remaining upbeat for now!
Here is a visit from this morning. The male is calling her in - unfortunately I only have microphones in two of my boxes, and this isn't one of them, so you can't hear anything. She eventually does pop in but doesn't look too impressed if I'm honest!
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