Hi
We have had nesting birds in our box for the last 4 years ( blue tits for the first 2 years and great tits for the last 2). Remarkably, the nest building, egg laying, and fledging dates have overlapped almost perfectly year on year (egg laying week 3 of April and fledging week 3 to 4 of May). This year I installed a daylight lamp in the autumn to try and get colour footage as limited light in the bix means the camera records in night vision mode. There has been no nest building to date (23 Mar 2025) though a great tit has been roosting overnight throughout the whole of winter and spring. Is there any evidence that birds may be put off by the illumination of the nest box during the day? In previous years the birds didn't spend the night in the box during nest building period, so I wonder if the box is being used differently this year, just as a roosting site ?ThanksIan
Sorry no one has replied. The site is extremely quiet.
I don't know. Light might be producing a bit of heat possibly, making it a good roost site. If that means it's a male that claimed the box, it is poss that it therefore means less likely a female would want to nest in it? No idea. Just guessing, but if the lamp isn't designed for the box and is improvised, I personally would take it out.
Thank you for your reply. Of course as I checked tonight, some nesting material has appeared. I had turned the lamp off yesterday. Coincidence? The lamp only illuminates during the day; it has a light sensor and is designed for a birdbox.