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Got nest boxes out in the garden but I get the impression that the blue tits may actually be planning to nest somewhere on the roof, they seem to be spending a lot of time around the roof flitting about and sitting on the telephone wires!
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
I get that feeling too,have 11 boxes all told and only one has any interest!
Still it is still early days yet.
Rachel
It's not always easy to hug a hedgehog.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't.
madpenguin said: I get that feeling too,have 11 boxes all told and only one has any interest! Still it is still early days yet. Rachel
Hi Rachel
That puts it into perspective for me. I only have one nestbox and I have no takers for it.
Best wishes Chris
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Hi Kat
My blue tit visitors aren't even doing that. They still seem to be only interested in feeding. :-)
Hopefully you'll get more interest in your boxes! Sometimes these little garden visitors can be so ungrateful can't they? lol
We are thinking of getting out our boxes out but due to some repairs to the wood, we have not got around to it at the moment. We have a home made one, and a shop bought one. The home made one has been a hit and the Tits love it. There is plenty of room in it and the wood is solid, and it has a felt roof (don't ask! LOL)
I think placing the boxes you have near where the Tits are looking may encourage them to nest
Are they new boxes to replace ones which you had before? It may be the Tits find them less homely than the ones you had before and they sense a change.
Don't give up hope just yet as Blue Tits will be only too keen to nest in a box if it is a great location.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
These are the first boxes I've put up in the garden, the house faces south so can't put them up on the front of the house. I think some birds have nested in the roof somewhere before as we sometimes used to hear little noises in there lol
Check out our nest box information here and also a book by the BTO called the nestbox guide is worth a look, more details here.
Its always worth providing a number of boxes of different designs in various places to give as many birds as possible an opportunity to nest. Our shop gives you an idea of the types available and the list of species on the BTO nestbox guide gives you an idea of just how many species can be tempted into artificial boxes given the right type of home!
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
Hi-
THIS IS NOT ADVERTISING :))) When choosing or making nestboxes remember SIZE!
For Blue Tits I have a 1" hole, a 7 " drop to the box floor and an internal space of 6" x 6" . I use inch thick wood ( traditionally old floorboards ) and counter sunk screws, metal hinges and a bit of old bitumen felt on the sloping roof :) I have a metal hole protector too. The new ones arent as good as the old ones though- I have a 25 year old one on a 20 year old ( 14" high x 7" internal ) box that has barely any rust. My Titchwell bought 5 year old hole protector is orange now.
Of course the RSPB make decent nestboxes in good sizes ( unlike some garden centres etc) but the plastic hinges don't look designed to last beyond a decade!
S
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