Topic: Blue tits

[telboy]

Have noticed two tits taking an interest in our birdbox.

Should the box be cleaned out of old nesting material or left?

[Obelixx]

The RSPB advises cleaning to remove any pests that may be lurking in the old nesting material.

[kenkew]

Cleaned out.
Unlike a normal nest which is subjected to the elements a man made structure can encourage parasites and disease. Do it now before the interest really grows!

[telboy]

Thanks a lot!

[kenkew]

....or knock another one up from bits of an old pallet with an access roof.

[rosebud]

WE have two bluetits in and out of our box and i dident know what to do its so early, we usually do clean them out but was worried when they kept coming back incase we frighten them off , so now we shall clean them, thank you for asking that question Telboy.

[grawrc]

I think it is quite likely that if you change/ replace/ or clean the box they will lose interest if they are already thinking seriously about making an offer. It is important to clean the boxes out but better done in the autumn so that traces of human intervention are long gone when the birds are house-hunting.

[Yellow Petals]

Although best done after previous occupants have left, it's still ok to empty them out at this stage when the birds are using the box as a place to spend the night, as the nest building and thoughts of family life are a little way down the line & shouldn't be put off by a quick cleaning intervention  :)

Additional note:  Boiling water is adequate for this job.

[tim]

We have a 3 slit vent in our larder wall. Blocked on the inside now. Sparrows have used it for decades, but I have never cleaned it - can't!

Have I done untold damage? Should I block it off completely?

[rosebud]

I had a conversation with knowledgable?  bird person, and he said yes clean them out if you can possibly do so, but remember they do not have people in the wild to do that for them and they manage very well so what do i do empty or leave them to it . ??? ???.

[kenkew]

Always best to clean out man made boxes as the way into them is usually just a small hole and the inside is a great place for bugs to over-winter. (Boxes for bluetits should have an entrance hole of no more than 30mm.)

Any location the birds choose, like under eves, in disused chimneys, hole in the wall is best left alone unless you have easy access to it.
Swallows for instance return to the same nest for years. Their nests should be left alone.

[telboy]

Thanks all.
I'm gonna clean it out - if there's anything in there?
Will report back.

[Merlins Mum]

Ken I like your nest box  :)

MM

[kenkew]

Ta, MM.
I put that particular one up a tree in my local wood. Not very high 'cos I only had an old log to stand on.
Yesterday it wasn't there. Some person must have nicked it to put in their garden. Very cheeky!
 Am I mad or upset? Na!...Not at all. At the end of the day a bird will have a home and that was the idea, eh?

[Merlins Mum]

ahh, aren't you kind and a very posh home at that  :)

MM