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Post by Ann70 on Feb 24, 2021 10:11:56 GMT
Brilliant to see them in the box together, bring on the first material.
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Post by YorksherLass on Feb 24, 2021 10:13:05 GMT
Such fabulous photos Matt & I wish with all my heart that they do decide to make their nest in there, then you can have a big party to celebrate!
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Post by matt on Feb 24, 2021 11:14:04 GMT
Very promising signs Matt, I must say all the years I have seen your activity this is probably the most promising of them all! There is no doubt Paul that this is way more activity than years past. Let's hope it carries on! I remember the one year I did get a nest, I had activity until early March, at which point the birds disappeared completely for nearly a month, before returning to start nest building in early April. There was some speculation at the time (on the old forum) that maybe the birds had started somewhere else, and then got disturbed/used mine as a backup, since it was quite a late start apparently. What do you think? Do you normally see a drop off in activity for a few weeks before nesting starts? I put it down to them "making the decision" and then getting on with their lives for a while before starting work, but maybe that is not how it normally works?
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 24, 2021 17:41:42 GMT
I think that was likely the case Matt, Her first nest was disturbed and she nested in yours. March is normally the "prime" month for everything, first material, increasing visits, proper nest building. So it seems strange for all march to be quiet for you, I mean I could be wrong but that is how it seems!
I do think this year will be your year, I know we can't predict these things but its looking extremely promising for you this year! Certainly more promising than 2019 and 2020 that is for sure! I will be shocked if you don't get a nest this year giving all this activity plus female visiting boxes by herself its all very promising signs.
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 25, 2021 7:17:26 GMT
I agree with you Matt that they have chosen their sites or sites and now just wait for the weather window and trees to be in full leaf etc, last year I had no visits for almost 2 weeks, so much so I switched the camera off! Then out of no where on Easter Sunday she started nest building at a furious pace! So it will be interesting to see what they do this year.
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Post by matt on Feb 27, 2021 10:45:56 GMT
So, interesting one - lots of visits over the last 3 days from Tony, inside the box for up to a couple of minutes each time, but no sign of Elvira at all! Not even on the outside of the box, I don't think, because you can normally tell from the shadows if there is another bird waiting outside. Hopefully that doesn't mean that something has happened to her.. Also quite an uptick in sparrow interest to the two starling boxes this morning - like 10x visits between the boxes (not inside), which is more than I've seen from them before. Spring is definitely springing here!
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 27, 2021 11:26:13 GMT
Awe I hope Elvira is ok. Great news on the Sparrows though, be great to see them use you boxes.
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Post by matt on Feb 27, 2021 13:23:11 GMT
I seem to remember last year (or year before?) Someone else's female went missing for a while and then returned? Or am I making that up?
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 27, 2021 13:42:00 GMT
She could just be eyeing other nest sites up by herself at the moment Matt before "picking" has we go into March now its time for them to decide on a nest site and things, Our male does his rounds daily to the boxes without females. Probably keeping watch on his sites, I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you haven't seen her in the next week or 2 then maybe something could of happened but its still early days of checking out all nest sites and picking what they think is best.
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 27, 2021 13:43:40 GMT
My Chico went awol for a whole day, Boulder was at the top of the tree calling for hours and hours and it as harrowing to watch him looking all around while calling for her, then out of the blue she just showed up.
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Post by matt on Feb 28, 2021 10:26:43 GMT
No sign of Elvira, or even Tony, so far this morning (they are usually been and gone by now, if they come), so the wait continues.. In other news, a sparrow finally went inside one of the starling boxes! The first time one has ventured in, although he didn't actually go down into the body of the box - just perched on the inside of the hole, looking out for nearly two minutes. Sparrow activity at both of the starling boxes has picked up considerably over the last couple of days, since this nice stretch of weather started. Not great focus right at the top of the box: He spent most of the time doing this:
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Post by sammi on Feb 28, 2021 12:27:42 GMT
Great news Matt. Same day as we had sparrows interested in our boxes
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 28, 2021 14:41:19 GMT
Watch out for him calling by the box or inside the hole to try and attract a female Matt, He may bring a little material in aswell. If he managers to get a female inside and she approves she will start building within a few days.
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Post by matt on Feb 28, 2021 15:01:33 GMT
Ooh could be exciting then Paul! How long does it normally take to attract a female, any idea? No sign of him since, apart from a couple of quick visits outside - nothing really happens at any of the boxes after about 10am. Still no sign of Elvira..
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 28, 2021 18:23:03 GMT
Sometimes they don't attract any and move on to another nest site Matt, I had 1 trying to attract a female in my handykam box on the back wall in 2017, He was sat on top box for over a week everyday but no females was interested so he moved on. When my male in front tried the female was in next day and building the day after, So it really all depends, If he is trying to attract a female he will bring a few pieces of material in.
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Post by matt on Feb 28, 2021 19:14:41 GMT
Interesting Paul, thanks. Funnily enough I watched a male sparrow lure a female into a hole in my opposite neighbors wall this afternoon - female went in for about 30 seconds. Lots of sparrows around here so probably not my male, but shows that they are getting on with it around here..
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Post by matt on Mar 1, 2021 10:06:05 GMT
Still no sign of Tony or Elvira, but the sparrows have gone a bit crazy this morning! They've calmed down now, but for about an hour at both starling boxes there was a (different) male calling to a female. Got a better look from the outside at one of the boxes, and the pair were rolling around together on the path at one point - didn't exactly look like mating, but they were certainly getting to know each other! Males right inside both boxes for minutes on end, calling away. Here's a pic from the outside of one of them:
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 1, 2021 10:10:41 GMT
Oh this is VERY PROMISING matt! I hope she accepts the box, Has she been inside yet? Be great if you get some sparrows, I have loved mine over the years 3 nests a season sometimes aswell! I have everything crossed for you, Is this the year of the sparrow for everyone you and sammi so far
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 1, 2021 10:19:13 GMT
Thats great to hear Matt, fingers crossed she likes it, I believe they are faithful to their original nesting site so this could be the start of many nests to come! Im sad to hear still no sign of Elvira, really hope she comes soon.
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Post by Ann70 on Mar 1, 2021 10:32:01 GMT
Matt hope your blue tits return soon, all the the sparrow action continues for you. Looks like you have a lovely day there,looking at the blue sky, I’ll swap, we have a dull, grey, damp, day with thick fog. bit disappointing after 3 sunny days.
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 1, 2021 10:44:05 GMT
Same here springtime66, cold and dull, not much happening at the moment, yesterday was beautiful and warm!
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Post by matt on Mar 1, 2021 10:51:10 GMT
Yes, lovely sunny day here on the south coast 3rd in a row, and spring is springing! Although apparently it will get colder towards the end of the week.. I don't think the female has been inside yet, Paul, although she has stood on the outside of the hole whilst the male was in there. I know there are at least two males working the boxes, as well, because I had a live image of a male in each (opposite sides of the house) at one point this morning! A little worried about Tony and Elvira, tbh, but I had a big gap between visits/nest building in my only year with a nest so far (possibly disturbed elsewhere, but who knows?) so I won't give up hope for quite a while. Haven't even seen them in the garden recently, either - they normally visit the fatball feeder in the day, although not that often. I'll keep a proper eye out today.
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Post by YorksherLass on Mar 1, 2021 12:29:25 GMT
Same weather here today as Ann & Karen, so very envious of your sun Matt! Fingers crossed that you get a couple of sparrows nesting at least this year & I can understand why you're worrying about Tony and Elvira, but try & keep positive if you can.
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Post by sammi on Mar 1, 2021 15:06:36 GMT
I think it must be the full moon effect on the Sparrows. Their behaviour is so synchronized it is uncanny Jack had a flurry of females around the box today but not one of them has ventured in.
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Post by matt on Mar 2, 2021 12:00:29 GMT
Wow - really, really quiet in the boxes today after all of the activity yesterday. Funny how it changes day to day. One bit of good news is that I did see two bluetits together at the feeder today, almost certainly Tony and Elvira. They haven't been in the box, though. Also, the great tit popped into the robin box again. Strangely, he is the only bird that has been in there, despite seeing robins and wrens hopping around in the same bush from time to time. I very much doubt the great tit is prospecting for a nest site, though - surely they wouldn't have any interest in a low, open-fronted box?
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