A place to learn, share and inspire others to create a haven for you and for wildlife.
Sign In or Register to join the conversation
My camera equipped nestbox had 5 surviving blue tits which were close to fledging. Yesterday morning as I was about to leave the house for a dental appointment I saw a Great-spotted Woodpecker attacking the hole of the box. Hastily, I found an old wire mesh hanging basket which I positioned over the box. When I returned home I found the woodpecker had managed to get through the mesh and had enlarged the hole. There were still three surviving chicks at that stage. I found a second basket which I placed over the previous one. Surely I thought the woodpecker couldn't get through both.
The following morning I awoke to this scene.
The hole had been enlarged to what you can see and the nesting material dragged out but retained in the basket. Amazingly, one chick had survived still in the nesting material but outside the box.
I decided to leave it alone rather than trying to put it back in the box as the parents were still feeding it. Later, it left the nest and hid in the shrubbery with the parents still feeding it. I was pretty devastated but I'm hopeful that at least one chick has survived. Needless to say GSW's are not my favourite bird of the day (sorry Chris).
Lesson learnt is that I should have fitted a metal plate over the hole although whether this would have stopped the woodpecker attacking an unprotected part of the box is debatable. One of the problems is that these boxes are made from cedarwood. Although these are weather resistant they are soft and no challenge to a woodpecker's sharp bill.
____________________________________________________________________
Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Oh TJ
I feel so bad that I have missed this thread since Thursday. I wish you had PM'd me about it.
I really feel your pain and quite understand your current view on GSW's, although I am absolutely amazed it was so determined, it got through the wire basket!
I'm so sorry for your loss, and really wish this had not happened.
A metal plate might help once you've managed to repair your box for next year, and I am aware that the very expensive Woodcrete nextboxes, don't seem to have a camera version. I will address this question with the manufacturers.
It's amazing that despite the fact that my Blue Tits are nesting in a nest box on the side of my house, and the fact that my GSW visits every day, he hasn't attacked the nestbox that's about 12 feet from the tree where he lands. I can't understand the trigger that makes some of them attack nesting birds, where others don't.
I hope that your one little chick survives.
Just for info This is my nestbox and the lump of wood where the hole is, is very thick. On mine there are some little peck marks around the hole, but nothing very deep. Could this thickness of wood have put the GSW off?
Best wishes Chris
Click Here to see my photos
Woodpecker said:It's amazing that despite the fact that my Blue Tits are nesting in a nest box on the side of my house, and the fact that my GSW visits every day, he hasn't attacked the nestbox that's about 12 feet from the tree where he lands. I can't understand the trigger that makes some of them attack nesting birds, where others don't.
It was entirely my own fault , Chris. I should have taken preventative measures. It was a case of shutting the stable door ......
The trigger seems to be when they can hear the young birds calling. This happens when the babies are getting close to fledging and are constantly calling for food. If you can hear your blue tits then be on your guard.
Unknown said:If you can hear your blue tits then be on your guard.
I can hear my ones. I also edited my previous post after you replied to it, so that I could show you how my nestbox is different. It doesn't help though, as I'm not sure if it's camera friendly. I would have to ask JJ.
I have heard that really determined Woodpeckers can go through the side if they can't get through the hole
I didn't see your edit before I posted. Yes, your nest box could well provide some extra resistance around the hole. I think you are quite right though a woodpecker could easily go through the side. As I said earlier in the thread these boxes are made from cedar and are quite soft although good for weather resistance.
Just keep your woodpecker well fed and hopefully he won't go after the chicks.
Now why is your woodpecker so pristine? Mine are filthy! I put it down to getting suet block on them and then squeezing through holes but yours are doing the same, obviously - mine are real scruffbags!
Kezsmum said:Now why is your woodpecker so pristine?
Yes, he does look quite smart. Must be that healthy diet of blue tit chicks. A female turned up this morning whom I haven't seen for a while. I don't know whether it's the mate of the male. I suspect there may be more than one pair around. Here she is looking quite smart too although perhaps a bit scruffier underneath.
Hard to believe something so good looking could gromph on your poor little blue tits:-( That was SO sad, - as you say, we feel quite parental towards 'our' birds and chicks - we all do it, despite our better judgement:-)
That is so sad, losing the chicks. especially when you have watched them build their nest for several weeks and then this happens.
Best wishes
Jenny
J