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Many of you will remember my camera nest box and Bluey, the bluetit rooster. He has been roosting every night without fail. He found a Mrs. Bluetit, and she paid many visits during the day time to clean out the box and remove all her husband's poo. That is dedication, methinks. She clearly hasn't heard of Girl Power. Then, about 2 weeks ago, she gave it up as a bad job, sensible girl. Bluey continues to roost every night, and the box is now really filthy. I still had some hope of Mrs. Bluetit returning to sort things out, but Alas and Alack, all hope has gone. Just look what she was doing this morning - plucking MY moss from MY basket and taking it away to another garden. She has a beak full of the stuff. The ungrateful little bird, after all I have done for her husband, providing him with bed and board all winter.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hello Stokkers, and welcome to the forum. Hope you stay on board.
I have been advised by many people that it is the male who makes the mess and the female who cleans it up. Nothing new there then.
My rooster always sleeps under the LED lights, and sadly this means I can't see much of him when he has finished preening and fluffing up for the night as the camera is at a slight angle and he is right in a "blind" corner. However, he does wake up a lot and shuffles about, has another preen and maybe a peek out of the hole. I know I won't get a nest in this box this year, which is sad, but hopefully he and Mrs. B will bring their babies to see me.
Good luck with your boxes.
Many thanks for your replies.
I have just had another peek at the camera box and it seems I have yet another feather to the collection
Ken
Those that learn, shall teach and those that teach, shall learn
This is just what seems to be happening to one of my tit boxes. It was new last year and nested in. Over the winter a male has roosted in it and I have had to clean it up twice. I have left it alone now and while it is still roosted in it is not visited during the day and I suspect it will not be nested in.
The other box, new this year, is being roosted in by a female and visited by a pair during the day. I have just spotted the female nest wiggling in it so I am hopeful.
A pooey sparrow box is being advertised with great vigour. Any potential wife here will have to be made of strong stuff as the inside is a bachelor pad to rival most I've seen.
Hi Dangerous,
My camera box continues to house the rooster overnight, but no day time action whatsoever. If any one takes it on they will also have to be made of strong stuff. It reminds me of a male student pad!!! (No offence meant to any students out there!! LOL)
Had them nesting last year but no signs so far. This is one of the babies checking the outside world
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Seems like there is something familiar coming out here, and it is confirming what an older chap than I, has come up with.
His theory is that most male bluetits mate with more than one female and as such, don't roost with the females, so once they have claimed a roost, and in this case, my camera nest box, they keep out of the way of the females except when they are called upon to carry out other duties. The camera box is warm and dry. Ideal conditions for nesting, therefore ideal for roosting and at the same time, somehow claiming a territory. I have seen him looking out of the entrance after he has set off the alarm.
As Birdwatcher says, I doubt if there'l be any hatching going on in there this year and Is making me wonder what action to take next year, or winter, as I hve had this camera box up for two year and nothing nesting, though a pokey little box I have (with no camera) had two broods last year and one the year before.
Hi Ken and a belated welcome to the forum from me as well.
[wave] Birdwatcher, that is a beautiful photo, thanks for sharing it.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Hi Birdwatcher - what a lovely photo. I wonder what he thought of the big wide world.
Well, now there's a surprise!!! My blue tit has turned out to be a Sparrow!!!! Had a really good look at him today. I think that if I don't do something, like change the size of the entrance hole, I will have NO bluetits this year. And ..... nothing! Because I can't see th9s sparrow letting anyone else in.
Poor sparrow!! You can't for shame evict him from his night time home this year, but I do know how you feel. My blue tit rooster has claimed my camera box as his bachelor pad and toilet, and no way will I get a nest in there, but that is far better than nothing. My camera videos his roosting habits and it is a pleasure to watch..