BT Nesting Box Under Attack From GSW: To Help or Not To Help? That Is The Question... Updated: 170514

Yesterday I went to stay with friends in Lingfield, prior to our visit to Pulborough Brooks which we had arranged for today. They have quite a wide selection of birds in the garden and I spotted a new bird box at the far end of the garden. I was told that BT's were nesting in there and got the camera in order to take photos of the adults coming and going. However, we noticed that the entrance hole to the box had been damaged. I took a close up photo just as one of the adult BT's was exiting and it seemed clear that something had ben pecking at the box.

As you can see, there were signs of 'tampering'. We suspected a GSW, but didn't see any evidence while we were outside. As soon as we were back indoors, one appeared and began pecking at the box. Naturally I didn't stop to take photos, I just ran outside to scare it off. We then spent the remainder of the afternoon in the garden, to offer the BT's some protection and allow them to feed their young without disruption.

From time to time the BT's would fly across to the fatball feeder and then return to the nesting box with morsels of suet ball in their beaks

Arrival...

... and departure. The visits to the box were taking place every 30 seconds or so. The GSW stayed away as long as we were in the garden, but when we went back indoors it would re-appear within seconds and begin pecking away at the hole.

The BT's continued feeding their young and finally we went back indoors as there had been no sign of the GSW. However, we had not been indoors for long when the first of several GSW visits took place. We had to run out into the garden on several occasions when the GSW turned up to peck at the box. We hoped it had finally been deterred after being chased off so many times, but it then returned as we were watching Top Gear, so quite late in the evening. The adult BT's finally came back after a few minutes, flitted around and then disappeared. It was now dusk and we had to decide what to do. The GSW had clearly not been put off and there was a chance that it might return later, or more likely, first thing in the morning. I found a suitably sized block of wood and glued it to the front of the nesting box, concealing the damaged area of the hole, but not making any noise which might disturb the young. I knew there was a chance that the adults might not return in the morning, but they would not be bringing any more food that night either, so the youngsters weren't missing out. If we did not see any movement from the BT's the following morning, then we would take them to Elstead Bird Sanctuary, where I took the young BT's last year. If the BT's did return, then no problem. We had no doubt that leaving the hole exposed would result in more attacks and the likely demise of the nestlings, so in reality the decision wasn't that tough after all.

07-21 This morning. We had been watching the BT's coming and going since about 06-30. The new Front Door didn't seem to be bothering them and the nestlings were chirping away noisily each time an adult arrived with a tasty snack

One of many visits

And another...

07-55

08-07 Both adults were flying back and forth on a regular basis, but the GSW had already appeared at least twice and started to peck at the hole once more. We just hoped that the block would hold out until we returned from Pulborough Brooks with a safety plate.

08-21 Normal service had been resumed and we left a short while later and headed for Pulborough Brooks. However, we were thinking about their safety for most of the day, not knowing what might greet us upon our return...

16-14 We arrived home from Pulborough Brooks to find this. The GSW had clearly made renewed efforts to get into the box. After a brief discussion, I took the decision to remove the piece of wood and fit the security plate there and then, rather than waiting. There were still youngsters in the box, but upon climbing the ladder, I saw nesting materials and feathers spread across the nearest branches. If I hadn't put the plate on, the nestlings would not have survived and as with the decision from the morning, I felt that it was worth it because we had the option of taking the soon to fledge BT's to Elstead if the parents abandoned them (which they did not - again).

This adult had been nearest to me when I was fitting the plate and was investigating the new security device within seconds of me having removed the ladder. Both of them had remained within 10ft or so as I removed the block of wood and then drilled pilot holes with a cordless drill and finally screwed on the plate. To save taking up too much time and also because one hole was over the aperture, I only used two screws. The GSW hole was wider than the actual plate. The nestlings stayed quiet throughout, but then began twittering again once Mum and Dad arrived. The number of voices seemed to be less than it had been in the morning. The reason for that soon became clear. Luckily it was a happy one.

Is this the right address?

I'm sure it is...

Checking out the latest version of the front door

More food for the nestlings

A tasty green caterpillar is next on the menu

And yet more tasty morsels

A quick peek out to ensure the coast is clear

After a short while both the adults became rather more adept at getting in and out of the somewhat smaller aperture!

While we were watching their arrivals and departures, we noticed that they had disappeared into the bushes that were about 20ft or so away from the box. The distinctive sound of a young BT calling for food could be heard from the bushes and then the parents re-appeared and the calling ceased until one of them returned. Somehow, one of them had come out of the box. Maybe it had been holding on to the nesting material when the GSW pulled it out, or maybe it flew out? Who knows? The main thing was that it was safe and could clearly fly judging by its location.

16-50 and they were still making deliveries. I don't think the littluns will take more than another day to fledge and hopefully the plate will last until then. My friends will be keeping me updated on their progress. Good luck little BT's!