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I have seven various nest boxes scattered around the garden here one of which has been used this year. I have just cleaned it out as someone on here kindly suggested. The thing is do I just leave the other boxes or should I try to look inside to see if there are deserted nests? Do any birds reuse a nest?
Thankyou.
Hello Coral
I would like to know the answer to this as well.
I only have blue- tits and greattits in my nest boxes and they have never had a second brood. I do know some species can raise two sets of chicks, blackbirds for example. (I think!)
I am sorry I do not know he answer but I am sure one of the experts will answer shortly.
Kind regards Jane.
Thanks for the reply Jef. I have had blackbirds raising a second brood and I have had a wren re use a nest by "tidying" it up.
Anyway the nest box has been cleaned, lodger has put it all back together again and it is now back awaiting some action!! It was so sad to find two dead chicks, I hope and pray some fledged safely. Mum and dad were feeding non stop so I am assuming some were ok.
I would clean out the ones you know have been occupied and not likely to be used again this year and leave the others till the autumn,just to be sure.
It's not always easy to hug a hedgehog.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't.
Hi Coral so sorry to hear about your chicks but hopefully others did fledge ok.
I usually leave mine well alone until Autumn when i give them a good clean out for the birds who need them for shelter over winter.
An optimist sees the beauty of the complete rose.A pessimist sees only the thorn .
Thankyou Sheena and MadPenguin for the advice. I know it is nature but I am a big softie at heart.
Unknown said:The thing is do I just leave the other boxes or should I try to look inside to see if there are deserted nests? Do any birds reuse a nest?
Hi Coral, the advice I would give is to check all the nest boxes.
I've checked another 40+ today which were occupied and removed all the old nests. The vast majority were occupied by Tit species which normally have only one clutch, but there are records of two clutches!
Again in my experience if a pair of Great Tits, Blue Tits etc raise a brood. The nest box in generally full of guano and subsequently not used to raise a second brood, would you raise your children in a house already full of guano!
However there are birds that will use the same nest if it remains guano free, I'm already ringing second broods of Treesparrows. They can raise a third brood!
The other thing with checking your boxes and removing old nests, it may encourage some late starters to use them. Again in my experience, birds will not use a box with an old nest in. I have however come across two nests on top of each other. Only on one occassion many years ago!
The Blue Tits started nest building earlier this year than the Great Tits and other Tit species, the main thing to consider when you approach the boxes is there any adults shouting at you!. Tap the box gently incase a Female is on a nest. If you disturb an adult, then leave the box for several weeks until the brood has fledged.
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way