Bird Boxes: 2016

The bird box is in full activity, all day, every day.
One of the blue tit pair is as bold as brass and will shoot into the box and out again while I stand very still on the patio. The other is a little more timid and "hides" in the choisya on the opposite side of the garden until it can't see me anymore

Within the garden I have a feeding station and I crammed a lot of Ozzy's undercoat hair into the suet block holder, back in January, specifically for the nesting birds. You can imagine my delight this week when I was sat on my bench and Mr Bold Blue Tit came out of the bird box, onto the feeder and bobbed up and down as he began grabbing great beak fulls of the hair, which he took straight back into the box In just a few minutes he had repeated this, at least, 8 times! Each time he grabbed some in his beak he looked like a blue tit Father Christmas with a big white beard

It is great entertainment

 

have about 3 now. still to cold for laying. The other night noticed more woots and woos from the woods that lead me to think there are more than one pair of owls about. My neighbor agrees as he back faces the same woods as we. He has a little wood shop, and will be making more Owl shelters.

 

Watched some really special activity today around the bird box. A tit came out and hung onto the chain of the hanging basket right next to the box. It clung on and then flapped its feathers very fast. Another blue tit flew down, they kissed, the 2nd one flew off again and the original one disappeared straight back into the box.

Few minutes later, it all happened again! And then it struck me: could this be a fledgling?

The front of the house has now become home to the House Martins once again ( ). Saw them for the first time on Saturday, circling around the house. Mr M saw one, in the nest under the eaves just sitting there, so I'm guessing, 2016 egg laying has begun

Hope everyone else is having success with the bird boxes

 

No much too early for fledglings. It's pair bonding activity. The male may have given the female something tasty to eat, rather than kissing.

Lucky you to have House Martins.

 

Interesting, thank you

Yeah, guessed as much, but kissing took up less words (and it does look like that; I'm a romantic, what can I say ).

Yes, I'm just finding out how lucky I am with the House Martins, seems they are declining in numbers Never had them in any of my previous houses and I noticed their nest when we first viewed this property two years ago. I tried taking some photo's last year; the quality was dreadful, but at least I managed to get a couple - they are so fast!

 

Yes they are declining and there is an ongoing BTO study to find out why. Anyone with House Martins on their house is particularly encouraged to take part. See:

http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/house-martin-survey/house-martin-nest-study-2016

if you are interested. They will tell you exactly what to do.

 

Thank you @Redwing I had no idea it existed. I'll go and register

 

I am going to make some swift boxes tomorrow, the swifts fly high above my home every year, looking more into it they can be attracted to nest, they have not arrived yet but should be here anytime soon,

I best get cracking and play them some mating calls.
http://actionforswifts.blogspot.co.uk/p/attraction-call-systems-for-swifts.html
http://www.bristolswifts.co.uk/swift-nest-box-design/

 

Friday/Sunday natural birth 6/8 oz possible names Streptopelia and decaocto is my prediction .

 

First fledgling

Apologies in advance for the quality of photo but, obviously, I didn't want to get too, too close; yet, of the 20 or so I did take, this was the best of the bunch

 

Another view

 

Lovely "M"
Here's mine, not using a box but the garage wall and the fledglings didn't come out that way, the little monkeys went inwards and got into the garage, so i had to resuce all 3 of them and put out side for mum,she found 2 and was feeding them but she wasn't feeding the thrid one so i had to move the thrid 0ne again and put with the other two, then all 3 were feeding

 

Nothing here , ive had interest in one box blue tits and a wren but no takers , I will reposition them later in the year, my garden should look a bit more mature next year that should help,

I was hoping to make some swift boxes and try and attract the swifts but that will be next year now.