We have had Blue Tits going in and out of nest box recently. Can any one tell me why they are doing it at this time of year - I would have thought this only happens in spring. I live in SE
They will be investigating potential nesting sites. I have seen them go in and out of my nest boxes as well.
;)
the male BT can build or select up to eight nest for the female to check over and make a choice of which one she wants to call home. So at the moment the female is checking out the different sites. Also if the weather gets too bad the birds will take shelter in a nesting box over night for protection against the biting wind.
Hmmmm, I never knew bluetits did that LesH, i know that male wrens build numerous nests for a female to select,as they do it in my garden, but never heard of BTs doing it ???
Lady of the land ive seen my BTs popping in and out of the nesting box recently, that they used to nest in last spring, I think they are partly checking it out for potential use this spring but i sometimes wonder if they use it for shelter during particularly cold weather such as we are having right now?
I am really hoping that my BTs come back to me this spring, cant wait to see if they do ;D
I didn't know that either about Blue Tits, but knew the wrens did and the Dunnocks seem to do it as well as choosing more than one mate. ;) ;)
One day last week at dusk, there were several long tailed tits surrounding the nest box in the apple tree. I stopped and watched them for a while but got too cold and in the end I just had to go indoors. I felt certain that they were going to shelter in the box overnight.
Birds do use the nest boxes for this purpose. I found this useful publication and I have copied the information about Rest and Shelter below.
http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/BirdsAndYourGarden.pdf
Rest and shelter
Although advice traditionally concentrates on the provision of nesting sites for birds, good roosting sites are just as important for a bird’s survival. Few birds actually build themselves a structure for the night but nest boxes are often used as noctural shelters. Boxes will give life-saving shelter to small birds like wrens and great tits but cannot accommodate larger species. In
really cold weather, small birds may squeeze into nest boxes together to
keep warm. One box is recorded as having accommodated no fewer than 61 wrens!
Thank you for the replies. We had wrens making nests in both boxes in spring last year, but did not stay - obviously ours are not good enough for them. Will have to see if blue tits prefer them.