Bird Boxes

[Deleted]

Went up to the hedgehog lady, and was thrilled when she pointed out the house martins! They were nest building, so stood in the rain and watched for ages.

[carolann]

We put our HM nest up on Friday night to try and stop them nesting on daughter bedroom window frame, too late they where already there repairing an old nest. She cant open her window because of the nest and if we have a hot summer she will have to get the fan out again, 2yrs ago her cat sat watching the birds flying in and out, she learned how to sit on the open window and scooped the birds out of the nest one by one, she ended up with a boot up the Jacksy and a good pasting, now she sits on our bedroom window watching to see if any try and make a nest on our side of the house. I'm sure they know which way all the bad weather comes. 2yrs ago they built on our side of the house and last year with all the rain and wind coming from the West they built on the East side of the house, hope its not a sign that we are not getting a summer again this year. They are early to arrive this year, normally its not till the 18th, and the Swallows are late arriving this time, they have only been here about 10days when they normally come on the 11th of March. We will have to wait and see what happens.

[JennyWrenn]

Ooooo dont smack the pussy cat Carolann she doesnt know any better
But I can imagine it wasnt nice to see that happening

Bit worried about my birdies - yesterday saw a little head poking thru - stood out of sight for ages and nothing else happened - in fact not seen parents for a while either

Will go and have another look now Hope parents not been killed and birdies left as orphans - wonder if they would just come of the box on own accord

[Shrubrose]

Ooo Jenny, I hope there's a happy ending? We've got great tits nesting high up in the west facing gable and I do so enjoy watching them come and go

[JennyWrenn]

Have just seen a parent pop its head in and out with worms so think they are tempting them out - and an ickle head appeared too

Bet I miss them leaving the nest - I keep checking - camera slung round my neck - am a bit worried my neighbour may think I am spying on him

[Dutchy]

Jenny I hope you do get them when they leave the nest.

[JennyWrenn]

I decided that today would be the day they would leave - the weather is mild and warm so got up early - NOTHING - not a sign - with my robins last year they did hover round MOI garden and MOI land for a few days

I hope they are alright

[Amo]

I'm sure they're fine Jenny!!

Our neighbours are back! These two built their nest on their own last year, probably their first year and now they're doing repairs.



OH wants to paint a landing strip on the wall but I don't think the neighbours would approve!!



I will try for some better pics later, the sun is just behind the roofline and a bit of a struggle for the camera!

[Dutchy]

Jenny next year better luck and Amo what lovely neighbours

[Jasmine]

Our blue tits are busy flying into the nest box with grubs and out with their little poo parcels so the eggs must have hatched - oh for that nest box camera!!

[JennyWrenn]

OH ME GOSH they are still there - well can only assume they have failed with their first batch and laid more eggs cos parents are in and out of the box with food

[JennyWrenn]

Oooooooooo just seen one very fat baby flapping his wings in the tree opp my study - whooooshed upstairs for my camera and he has now disappeared

Will keep a look out - dont know how he got out of the box - he is so big

[JennyWrenn]

Oooo I was wrong - that must have been a fat parent fluffing out its wings - it must be so cramped in there

Just heard a lot of tweeting so there are now babies - not heard this sound before - this could be first batch only just hatched or second batch after first failed

MOI box is certainly getting some good use ;D

[Jasmine]

I wondered where they all put themselves once the chicks have hatched Jenny!
I love listening to the cheeping too - I've never been lucky enough to see them fledge though. What a treat that would be!

[Tig]

Thought I'd share my neighbours 'posher' bird box ..



And one OH made which we de-commissioned and had a bee make a nest in last year



It is used by the cat as a platform from next doors garden back to hers ours - and today I noticed it is also home to the most stupid great tits in the County









If they survive it will be a miracle - OH has tried to secure the box better to the fence because it tilts if any of the neighbourhood cats jump on it

x Tig

[Tig]

I have just had a very stern conversation with cat!! She has been told firmly that I have not installed a take-away in the garden for her! She is not allowed to 'stake-out' the box by sitting staring at it, or jumping on the roof

Will she take any notice of me though, I have tapped her bottom

x Tig

[Tig]

Sometimes patience rewards



x Tig

[JennyWrenn]

Oh what lovely piccies Tiggy - one neighbour's cat jumped on my statue - positioned near my bird box - and broke it - they go to great lengths dont they to get at the birdies

One statue in two halves - wont mend made of concrete

[Dutchy]

The empty box at MssK isn't empty at all.
It is tweeting and mum and dad grey( great?) tit are in and out.
I only hung it this march I think so thought it was too late but good for next year.
Wow.
I am real chuffed.
Little feathered friends to help with the garden pests.

Sorry to hear of your statue Jen. On the up, the chances of survival for your birdies have gone up.

[JennyWrenn]

You can see the statue in the first post I made - FB commented on it

They are still tweeting - ;D

[Deleted]

JW sorry to hear about your statue, who said cats were graceful! Have you thought about trying to mend it with liquid nails or something similar. The building trade use it to stick houses together and I bet it would probably do it. Or epoxy resin?
Anyhow glad youve got some littlies in your birdbox

[farmersboy]

May 21, 2008 19:04:42 GMT JennyWrenn said:

You can see the statue in the first post I made - FB commented on it

They are still tweeting - ;D

Fancy you remembering that,id forgotten all about it

[Amo]

I know these aren't quite bird boxes in the normal sense, but they are bird homes ;D




How these little things throw themselves around, and in the high wind yesterday too! And he is upside down if you can quite make it out. ;D



New neighbours on the right



And newer neighbours on the left.



We do wonder if the two newbies are last years young from the older nest.

[JennyWrenn]

These are lovely at least you can see progress

I have been away for a few days and thought when I got back they would have left the nest - but no parents still feeding and the babies still tweeting

Not a good day to leave home tho - really cold and very windy

Oh so worrying having babies to look after

[Tig]

I think the blue tit chicks have left home today, the box is unusually quiet

I went to check on the great tit chicks and at least one is still in the box



x Tig

[JennyWrenn]

Oooo Tiggy poor ickle thing are they still encouraging him to flee; not a good day to flee the nest here in Macc - very very windy and cold

[Tig]

It is very overcast, windy and wet here Jen, they may all still be in the box, but they are obviously quite big now. I don't think it will leave tonight, maybe in the morning

[Shrubrose]

What a great little pic Tig ;D Looks like it's playing 'peep-bo'!

[JennyWrenn]

Do they return to the box - sorry if silly question - makes sense tho ;D

I do hope mine dont go 2nite - and hats off to parents for coping with this wind - I notice my Mock Orange right by the box is totally bug free

[Tig]

I don't think they return Jen, I have never seen them go back in once they come out, but I would think they need to improve their flight skills in the big wide world before they could manoeuvre well enough to get back in the hole

Great tits have flown - but the blue tits are still in their box chirping like mad today!

x Tig