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Post by sammi on Mar 29, 2021 7:25:51 GMT
Thanks folks. Early morning there was a female at the hole while Jack was in. She didn't stay long but all is not lost. Hopefully the warm weather will be a trigger to start.
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Post by sammi on Mar 29, 2021 19:44:38 GMT
Things look back on track. Lots of nest building today by both Jack and Jill(?) Can I hope it's all sorted now?
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Post by petesbox on Mar 30, 2021 12:51:18 GMT
Looking good Sammi.
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Post by YorksherLass on Mar 31, 2021 9:06:32 GMT
Sammi - that's good news! I hope it is Jill who has returned after a mini break, if not, then it looks as though you will still have a success in your box.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 31, 2021 13:56:19 GMT
Lovely video Sammi
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Post by sammi on Mar 31, 2021 21:00:58 GMT
Well folks this bluetit is intent on mischief. How she manages to avoid Jack and Jill's visits I don't know. These visits were minutes apart
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 31, 2021 21:48:34 GMT
Close call Sammi!! I really hope they don't cross paths
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Post by sammi on Apr 1, 2021 9:37:42 GMT
Close call Sammi!! I really hope they don't cross paths You and me both Paul. The bluetit pair are there again this morning I'm finding myself shouting at the screen. "WHY WHEN THERE ARE LOADS OF BOXES TO CHOOSE FROM! "
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Post by YorksherLass on Apr 1, 2021 11:05:54 GMT
Oh heck Sammi, she really is dicing with death isn't she?
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Post by elle on Apr 1, 2021 19:18:55 GMT
Omg Sammi What on earth is going to happen I can definitely relate to shouting at the tv, iv done this many a time, and I have to say, they still won’t take a blind bit of notice! Elle xx
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Post by suep on Apr 2, 2021 23:00:05 GMT
Looks ‘interesting’ at yours Sammi - I will have to start reading these threads in more detail to catch up with all that’s happening. Sue
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Post by sammi on Apr 3, 2021 20:30:08 GMT
Well I think the sparrows have it. There has been the occasional bluetit visit but not inside and both Jack and Jill have been busy. Now I have maybe the reason this nest box is so popular. The boxes usually used are on the fence and earlier this year the clematis had to be cleared as it was literally bringing the fence down. Little did I realise how much use it was apart from its beautiful flowers. We have just put up an outside view camera on one of the boxes on the fence and to our horror thesis what was captured.
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Post by matt on Apr 3, 2021 22:04:27 GMT
Uh oh! Is that box in use now, Sammi, or not? If not, I guess you know the reason why!
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Post by sammi on Apr 4, 2021 10:32:42 GMT
This box is where they normally nest or in the other box further up the fence. The clematis was doing a great job protecting the boxes. We are thinking of ways to temporarily limit the danger for this season just in case the bluetits use either box. Any ideas welcome. We are thinking of a narrow band of open trellis along the fence.
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Post by YorksherLass on Apr 4, 2021 11:29:48 GMT
Flipping cats Sammi - the bain of my life too! Perhaps a trellis & artificial ivy draped over it covering the nest box?
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Post by Ann70 on Apr 4, 2021 14:02:32 GMT
Sammi You can buy anti intruder rubber spike strips from d I y places
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 4, 2021 16:25:15 GMT
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Post by petesbox on Apr 4, 2021 17:15:11 GMT
Spikes would do the job.
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Post by Ann70 on Apr 4, 2021 18:18:47 GMT
Hope you solve the cat intruder Sammi
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Post by sammi on Apr 4, 2021 18:30:22 GMT
everyone for your comments. I was wondering how effective those spike things were. I'll get a pack that covers 5m and put some on fence and some on roofs. I was put off thinking that the bluetits wouldn't like them either though Uupdate on sparrows. Both Jack and Jill have been busy building all day. I love to see them work together. I will try to post some clips tomorrow. We are worn out as we've been lifting turf from our neighbour's garden and relaying in ours. We had permission I hasten to add
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Post by elle on Apr 5, 2021 9:04:56 GMT
Hi Sammi, just seen your video of the dreaded cat I also had a problem some years ago with my then neighbours cat, during the night it kept bringing the security light on and my daughter would come and wake me up so I could go outside and chase it off, honestly I was fuming the fact that they had a pet and it spent more time outside roaming and only went home to eat!, even more so, that it used to petrify ‘my’ birds. It was Kathy who told me about these spikes which I did buy but the bloody cat just walked on them more gingerly!! So as absolutely useless, then she suggested that cats don’t like citrus smells, so I made some like bouquet garnies filled with lemon thyme, lemon verbena and some other herb which has evaded my memory now, but I nailed them to fence around the box, and stuffed them into the edge of the garage roof as the box was near and that was the cats route, and particularly above the box. The outcome was amazing Sammi, I never had anymore problems with the cat, also I could have saved money on the spikes which did naff all. good luck Sammi Elle xx
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Post by elle on Apr 5, 2021 10:14:37 GMT
Don’t know what’s going on today with my posting Sammi, but I thought I’d already gave you my personal experience, but anyway here goes!! many years ago my neighbours cat used to use the fence as it’s route where my nest box was and absolutely petrify the birds by dipping its paw in, and it used to bring the security light on during the night and wake my daughter, in turn she used to come wake me up and I would go downstairs to chase it off! I was fuming at the fact that they had a so called Pet, and yet it was outside more than inside, it only went home for food! Anyway it was Kathy on here who mentioned these spikes, well i had them put up and they did absolutely nothing as the cat just walked more gingerly across them, she also mentioned they didn’t like citrus so I filled some bouquet garnies with Lemon thyme, Lemon verbena & another herb I can’t remember now, I slotted them into the garage roof as that was the route to the fence, also nailed some to the top of fence above the box and some little bags round the box,and the result was amazing, we never had anymore problems and the cat actually changed its route! We did however change them to keep the herbs strong smelling. good luck Sammi Elle xx
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Post by YorksherLass on Apr 5, 2021 11:00:55 GMT
Sammi, just like Elle did, I found out the hard way after buying loads for our fences, that they were useless! They didn't stop the 7 or so cats we get at all but all our birds had no problems with the spikes. Try the lemon thing as Elle suggested, hopefully it will work for you too. I couldn't do it though as the smell of lemon "upsets" me so can't use Fairy Liquid etc, stuff that has lemon in it!
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Post by sammi on Apr 5, 2021 17:58:17 GMT
Thanks Elle and Diane.....I saw these posts after putting the strips on the fence so we will see if our visiting cat has more sensitive pads than your visitors or not I'll try the lemon idea too around the box if it looks like the birds are going to use it this year. The clematis will be making a comeback by next year
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Post by sammi on Apr 6, 2021 10:30:20 GMT
I love how Jack and Jill work together. Although Jill sometimes can't make her mind up
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