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Hello there,
Hoping someone here might be able to help with some advice. We were so excited when a pair of bluetits began to use our nesting box to create a little home... However today when we looked out, the box was on the floor and when we picked it up a large proportion seemed to have smashed, and one of the pair was still in it. It was all very sad. As quickly and quietly as we could we put the box back up, checking it's secure. We think there's a chance that one or two might have been undamaged so were (hoping) wondering if it's likely that the parents will return, and what the prospects are for the eggs that were ok..
Thanks in advance.....
Thanks for your response Alan. I thought might be the case, but was just hoping I might be wrong. Such a shame... we've been watching them from the outset slowly gathering their nest materials together.
Ok - I'll keep peeking out to see if they return (I so hope they defy all the odds!) but if not, will do as you suggest in the hope we can entine another family in...
Hey again Alan, sorry to keep bothering you but I have (I hope) good news! The family of blue tits have returned to the garden this morning. We didn't touch anything but resecured the box and also put some wire trelis (sp?!) to keep anything away too. I replenished all the feeders hoping to entice them back. One hopped around on the tree nearby the box for a while and then on to the trelis and then sat on the entrance to is. So far they've not gone back in as I've seen. So I just wondered if we just leave them to it - is there a chance they might clear out the damaged eggs themselves? Or might they just leave it as it is and care for the ones that were ok? We just wanted to make sure we shouldn't get rid of the damaged ones.
Thanks for all your advice!
Hi Clairebear,think the advice is normally to clear box out at end of year but personally in this instance I would carefully look to see if there are good eggs left and if there are give them a fortnight to reclaim nest and if the don't clear it out as either them or another pair could well use the box as they have 2 or 3 broods a year.If no good eggs in there Iwould clear it out immediately to give them or others the chance to nest in it.
It's very rare for tits to have a 2nd brood. I'd give it maybe 10 days and if the eggs are cold and theres no use o the nest clean it out. It may be possible for a re lay but not sure.
Don't clear straight away invade te birds actually are using the nest. They don't incubate straight away but lay and cover then incubate