Blue Tit Nesting Box Feb 13th 2010

For Christmas 2008 my daughters gave me a blue tit nesting box with built in camera for viewing inside the nesting box on a TV.

I didn't put it up in 2009 knowing I was going to be away during the critical time (see link to my travel blog in the column on the right) so I put it in place a couple of weeks ago for this year's nesting/breeding period. I have placed it in the same place as an old, well-used one in the hope that the tits will know the location and approve of their new upgraded home.

About a week ago I was delighted to see tits frequently going in and out of it - obviously giving it the once-over to see if it was suitable for them to move in.

A few days later bits of twigs etc. started to appear and I became convinced that nest-building was starting. Exciting times!

Then today strange things started to happen: birds were appearing and taking the nesting material OUT of the box. It can only be one of two things: either the prospective tenants had found better accommodation; or rivals were coming in and thieving. Only time will tell.

It is very early days yet, winter still being upon us, and I suspect it will be few weeks before things begin to seriously happen.

Here is my first attempt at posting a video. The camera is situated in the roof of the nesting box so the aspect is looking down to the floor of the interior. (Sorry about the background noise - I am new to this and will try to find a way to get rid of it)

(The video doesn't seem to appear on the FB version so if you want to see it you will have to go to http://judy-bluetitnestingbox.blogspot.com/. )

I have decided to keep a track of this nesting box on a blog and post it to Facebook so those who are the slightest bit interested can read it and look at the photos/videos. Those who aren't interested can ignore it - easy!

I will blog again as and when interesting things happen. I know that if this nesting box is successfully occupied I will become addicted to it. What with the laptop/internet here in the kitchen window and now this compulsive bird-spying during daylight hours I will become even more rooted to this chair and even less will be done around the house!