|
Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 12, 2020 11:08:46 GMT
Nope spoke too soon....no rooster again last night and the night before....lol!!!
There is a pair from 6:30am in morning now and working all through the day until close of business....nesting material coming in, nesting material going out...shuffles, pecking, scrapping the bottom....this is going on all day long!!!
Guys, I'm just so delighted that this is finally happening. I'm enjoying every minute of this...and all the comings and goings.
Sammi...yes, dare I say it...but with all of this action, self isolation will indeed be a pleasure!!! Being paid to sit at home and watch the birds!! lol!!! Dream job!
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 12, 2020 13:55:50 GMT
Honestly over the moon for you, After 7 / 8 years of nothing and waiting, I can't think of someone who deserves a nest more than you. Can't wait for your updates over the coming weeks!
|
|
|
Post by matt on Mar 12, 2020 14:06:49 GMT
Fabulous! I agree with Paul, you deserve a nest more than anyone on here and I am so glad that it is finally happening for you!!
|
|
|
Post by sammi on Mar 12, 2020 17:20:23 GMT
Over the moon for you GBH. đ¤¸ââď¸đ Yipeeeeeee!
|
|
|
Post by suep on Mar 12, 2020 17:47:21 GMT
So very happy for you GBH. Your pair are really keen to get going, so exciting. Sue
|
|
|
Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 13, 2020 10:34:07 GMT
Ah thanks for the well wishes folks!! Yes, fingers crossed the pair will keep at it and continue. The dry moss comes into the box, then it gets removed and more gets brought in again....Theory: I wonder do they do this to deodorise the box? Or remove moisture perhaps.... what is the thinking behind it? So, in an interesting turn of events, here I am sitting at home...the whole of Ireland in total lock down because of Covid 19 Little did I know my flippant comment yesterday would actually come to reality so suddenly!!! Its really bizarre...like being in a film. Well...I intend to stay busy while all this madness is unfolding. Trying to stay clear headed and keeping anxiety at bay... it is worrying times. We have started to develop a wildlife area to the front of our house....we invested in a number of bird and bee friendly trees - a Bird cherry tee, some Mountain Ash, Holly trees, Hazelnut tree, some Arbutus trees, a young Larch, and a Lilac tree and some different varieties of fruit baring pink & white decorative cherry trees for a bit of colour. Some have gone down last weekend and the rest will be finished going down this weekend. We have started to let the grass grow wild in this area now and intend to put down bluebells and other similar forestry type ground plants such as fern etc. To the side of the house, I'm creating a little orchard area and putting down an apple, a pear and a plum tree. Then to back, at some point in the future , we will create a pond area. So, in situations like this where people are heard to say "I won't let the grass grow under my feet"....I will in fact, be doing the exact opposite! ha,ha!!! Oh yes, and one other bit of exciting news is we have a hedgehog visiting in our garden....he's very friendly and doesn't seem to bother about us being there...but we won't interfere with him/her either. I hope to put a hedgehog box down in the Autumn...maybe with another camera???? lol!!!!
|
|
|
Post by suep on Mar 13, 2020 21:27:59 GMT
Aw, loving the hedgehog GBH. Sounds like you are definitely making a real wildlife friendly garden - well done you . So pleased the move has proved so good for you. Sue
|
|
|
Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 16, 2020 8:41:14 GMT
Hi all...another little update. So, box cleaning has been on-going, with moss going in and going out....no change there. The female is intent on taking the whole top layer off the bottom of the box and is working her way systematically from back to front. (I wonder is this a usual act, or is it because the LED light is on that she can see the roosting residue more than normal?) Then yesterday evening, the female was busy cleaning away when she was caught out time wise, and the LED strip light went out for night....the female was clearly puzzled and was wondering where all the light had gone suddenly. But instead of making a bolt for it, she decided to hang around, and after a few minutes of just sitting waiting and looking around at the ceiling, she must have decided that maybe this wasn't such a bad thing after all and she settled down for the night. So, I've had my 1st female rooster!! Her behaviour is very different from Maurice and when I saw huddled in the corner, she seems so much smaller....another notable difference this morning, was that the box was still spotless. Maurice would have several droppings left lying around. There she is settled in for the night... I'm loving all of this so much!!!! Edited to add: We have decided to call her "Beaktrix Potter" - We'll probably just call her "Beaktrix" though.... she's bringing in large clumps of fluffy moss now this morning - so delighted.
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 16, 2020 11:17:54 GMT
I can't express how pleased for you I am, Really enjoy all of this, nest building, egg laying, chicks, fledging you deserve it after all these years of waiting! That new house sure did bring you luck!
|
|
|
Post by karenupnorth on Mar 16, 2020 11:33:24 GMT
Really exciting time!! Look forward to seeing lots of pics of your garden as it develops. Regarding the female behaviour chipping the floor, Chico did the same,and when I cleaned it out after the season finished, she had chipped out a perfect indent cup shape if you like into the floor, so she mayby doing that. Great to see you have a hog too, mayby hogletts to come!
|
|
|
Post by petesbox on Mar 16, 2020 16:05:50 GMT
Great, should be full on nest building soon.
|
|
|
Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 17, 2020 12:02:30 GMT
LĂĄ FhĂŠile PĂĄdraig sona duit! A little St Patricks day message for you all....
|
|
|
Post by suep on Mar 17, 2020 12:11:42 GMT
Loving Beaktrix Potter - perfect. Sue
|
|
|
Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 19, 2020 7:07:40 GMT
Beaktrix....the story so far.... Floor scrapping still ongoing, and I think you might be right karenupnorth - she does seem to be chiselling out a slight hollow...or trying damn hard to! Anyway, she's working away from early morning each day bringing in material....I don't see any material leaving the box anymore now. She has also roosted in there each night. So she's happy out. The Male visits box too, but not inside the box....I have to presume its "Maurice". But can't really tell. No interest whatsoever in the sideways box#2, apart from a Great Tit poking its head in every odd day, but won't go in (can he fit I wonder - it is 32mm opening but he seems so much fatter than the blue tits?), and that Starling is still trying to get in...not a chance! I opened it up to check that there was nothing going on inside, wasps, or something else, but nothing at all...they are just not interested in that box. Its north facing...so perhaps its not as attractive as my east facing box. If no interest in this 1st year, I will switch it in September to another east facing location in the garden.
|
|
|
Post by Ann70 on Mar 19, 2020 7:31:37 GMT
good to see things are on the move over there for you, you will be thrilled, good luck with your other boxes.
|
|
|
Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 19, 2020 8:23:01 GMT
Well, well, well.....maybe hope is not lost after all for the sideview box....look who has come to visit!! A little Coal Tit - now that would be something!!! (Realistically, its probably just looking for some food. Still though...)
|
|
|
Post by Amanda on Mar 19, 2020 8:48:33 GMT
Oh wow, how lucky are you! That would be amazing if you had a coal tit nest. Great news about you blue tit stating to nest
|
|
|
Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 19, 2020 9:21:15 GMT
I'm laughing here....after nearly writing off that sideways box, more interest!!!! I've been watching this pair since I last posted....they have been coming and in and out of the box for a very long time.....herself seems extremely interested and has begun floor pecking and nest wiggling - the whole shebang!!! According to Google, it says this marks the 1st day of Spring....well, apparently the birds also use the internet. Literally have never seen so much activity at that box. I'm off to work now (I'm the only one going in - so no fear of Covid 19) - I'll be excited to see any developments when I get home.
|
|
|
Post by petesbox on Mar 19, 2020 12:56:35 GMT
Like the Vids gbh nice to see a coal tit up close.
|
|
|
Post by suep on Mar 19, 2020 15:44:10 GMT
Well well weâll GBH, the luck certainly seems to have moved in with you. Blue tits look extremely interested, but donât give up on the little coal tit - many years back I did have a coal tit use a nesting box so does happen. So pleased with all your progress. Sue
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 19, 2020 19:49:44 GMT
Lovely videos of your nest builder plus the coal tit! Look at you this year, Spoilt for choice!
|
|
|
Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 20, 2020 11:40:52 GMT
Quick update - no further visits afterwards to the Sideview box apart from a few intermittent head pokes. So, all quiet there and nothing going on there today at all. But...in the long box, there is strange carry on...as of this morning the box was quite full of moss, and the female was bringing lots and lots in from early morning...but now she has taken a complete U-turn and is absolutely exhausting herself trying to drag out all the nesting material out of the box...box is nearly empty again....she even had to go for a snooze for a while? Why would she be doing this????
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 20, 2020 11:47:05 GMT
Pretty normal behaviour GBH, Its never happened in my boxes but i've seen in happen in many others. Include Malcolm and Elizabeth's boxes, I've seen a box full of material in past ready to be lined then all taken back out. She will crack on with it when she knows the time is ready.
|
|
|
Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 20, 2020 12:02:25 GMT
Crazy burds!!! I wonder do they use the dry moss as some sort of natural cleaner or anti-bacterial agent....or maybe it draws out moisture or acts as a deodoriser perhaps....there must be something scientific to it, otherwise, why would they bother??? She's back to pecking at the floor again now. Maybe the material was simply getting in her way? Anyway....who knows? Edited to add a few pics: As of this morning at 7:30am - generous amount of material : Video of the last of the material being removed at 13:30 and back to the furious floor pecking:
|
|
|
Post by suep on Mar 20, 2020 13:43:29 GMT
|
|