Blue Tits investigating nest box (1 Viewer)

[treetop]

Not sure if I'm in the right section here but here goes anyway.

I have a question. Earlier this year we put up a nesting box at the bottom of the garden. Within 24 hours we had a pair of blue tits nesting in it, it was marvelous watching them bringing material to fill the nest box and then bringing feed for the chicks. Then in early April it was fantastic to see those chicks fledge.
Today 11/12/2014 we have just witnessed two blue tits fighting like crazy, they both flew off and within 2 minutes one came back and went into the nest box.
Can you tell us if it's unusual at this time of year for a blue tit to make a nest box his/her home.

 

[GusHawk]

As for the Blue Tits, Treetop, I think Blue Tits use nest boxes for settling down in at night. Especially with the weather we've been having and are yet to have these past few days.

 

[delia todd]

Hi treetop and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators. I've moved your post to the Garden Birds forum and subscribed you to the thread so you can keep track of it.

I think these birds are investigating the box with ideas of using it as an overnight roost during the winter. They don't think of nesting until the better weather, as they need the right sized caterpillars to feed their young.

You can read more about them here in our Opus article.

I hope you enjoy your time here with us.

 

[treetop]

Hi treetop and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators. I've moved your post to the Garden Birds forum and subscribed you to the thread so you can keep track of it.

I think these birds are investigating the box with ideas of using it as an overnight roost during the winter. They don't think of nesting until the better weather, as they need the right sized caterpillars to feed their young.

You can read more about them here in our Opus article.

I hope you enjoy your time here with us.

Thank you Delia for your reply to my question. I will keep an eye on the nest box and see what develops.

I would add that we are lucky to see the smaller birds as we live near a Nature Reserve that is full of Magpies, Crows and a fair few Common Buzzards that we often see circling overhead.
treetop

 

[coaltit]

blue tits

Not sure if I'm in the right section here but here goes anyway.

I have a question. Earlier this year we put up a nesting box at the bottom of the garden. Within 24 hours we had a pair of blue tits nesting in it, it was marvelous watching them bringing material to fill the nest box and then bringing feed for the chicks. Then in early April it was fantastic to see those chicks fledge.
Today 11/12/2014 we have just witnessed two blue tits fighting like crazy, they both flew off and within 2 minutes one came back and went into the nest box.
Can you tell us if it's unusual at this time of year for a blue tit to make a nest box his/her home.

I must mention I have never seen personally a Pair Of blue tits nesting earlier than april the pair you mention Fledged chicks in early april so they were nest building early/mid march Perhaps someone else can mention more on this but nevertheless still Interesting, I know sometimes wrens will go into a nest box winter time to Huddle up and keep warm together I think the blue tit you mention was just Haveing a look round for next year they often prospect during the winter months for somewhere to breed next spring.

 

[Kits]

I posted a photo in the gallery just yesterday, showing a blue tit which was investigating our nest box. I was pretty sure he was checking out a winter home.

 

[treetop]

As for the Blue Tits, Treetop, I think Blue Tits use nest boxes for settling down in at night. Especially with the weather we've been having and are yet to have these past few days.

Thanks Gus, What could I put in the box to make it more comfortable for them?

 

[GusHawk]

I'm not sure if they possibly do it themselves? You'd have to wait for someone more experienced than me to answer that one

 

[markspirito]

They will probably find their own material, although in some of my nest boxes i put a small amount of dried moss in the bottom to encourage them to breed, incidentally I have a Male House Sparrow taken over a double nest box which he regularly sits outside and has been calling for the past 2 months at least, I dont expect they are breeding, but he seems to of claimed this box ready for the spring.

Regards from Mark

Thanks Gus, What could I put in the box to make it more comfortable for them?

 

[treetop]

Here's an update it is not a blue tit, had a good view of it today it's a great tit and he/she has gone into the box after much flaffing around the nest box. So if this is some sort of pattern then it looks like he/she is settling down for the night around 16.00 hrs dusk.