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Right. Here's ther scene> Our boxcam shows that two tits have been industriously building a nest in the box for the past 10 days. Both to-ing and fro-ing with nest-building materials and the nest taking shape.
For the past few months a single tit has been roosting in the box overnight. We don't know if it's one of the pair doing the nest building.
Two days ago, over the course of about 4 hours, all the nest material was cleared out of the box. Every twig, piece of grass, moss etc. - gone. There was no sign of any debris at the foot of the tree underneath the nest box so it must have been taken somewhere very deliberately by one or other of the tits.
The next night there were two tits roosting in the box - one clearly trying to oust the other but in the end both fluffed up and settled down.
Now the nest building has started up again and as I write two tits are cuddled up together in the box roosting.
Has anyone got an idea what's going on here?
Hi, and welcome to the forum,
I am no expert on this, but I have a two camera boxes myself, and last year I was advised the following:
A winter blue tit rooster will normally bring its mate to look at the pad, and if they both agree, they will use it for a nest. The female will clean out any poo that accumulated during the winter, and once building starts the female will sleep on the part built nest whilst the male roosts nearby, keeping guard.
I have no idea why your pair (or 2 interlopers) cleared out the part built nest. Itis very odd - but interesting!
Cheers, Linda.
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Hi Ellen
I had a look at the RSPB advice pages for nestboxes, and it mentions that 'Many birds roost in nestboxes, especially during a cold winter night. These roosts are frequently communal with the birds packing together for extra warmth. The record number of birds found in one box is 61 wrens!'
I suppose it's possible that on the one night where one was trying to oust the other, you had two same sex roosters in your nestbox. So it maybe that during the previous two days the dominant bird got rid of all of the nesting material that the non dominant bird had brought in
I'm sure that they will eventually sort themselves out into pairs, and one pair will nest in your nestbox
Best wishes Chris
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I think the RSPB advice may refer to many species, but I believe blue tits are normally lone roosters and don't like company.
Susan H said: I think the RSPB advice may refer to many species, but I believe blue tits are normally lone roosters and don't like company.
I was trying to think of a possible answer, and the two roosters clearly didn't seem to get on.
Unknown said:Every twig, piece of grass, moss etc. - gone. There was no sign of any debris at the foot of the tree underneath the nest box