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Hello - I am new to this forum and wondered if anyone could help offer some advice.
I am fortunate to have a number of birds visit my garden. This is beacuse it backs onto cannock chase and is sheletered by many trees and bushes. We have a bird box on a tree that blue tits nested in last year. Today I noticed blue tits going back into the box, however I thought it was too early for nesting and have yet to clear it out. Do I therefore quickly clean out the old nest - or do I leave the nest in? Can it be used again? Also I had a camera for Christmas that goes into the bird box, so I would quite like to install that too.
Many thanks in advance
Becky
I think if you are quick you should be OK although there is the possibility that you might put the birds off.
I expect someone else will have further thoughts.
Oh and welcome to the forums!!
It's not always easy to hug a hedgehog.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't.
Hello Becky and welcome from me too :) sounds like you're going to have a nice springtime, especially if the camera is operating so good luck for a busy season.
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Regards, Hazel
Cleaning old nests out of nest boxes each autumn is generally recommended because this means that parasites and/or diseases living in the old nest cannot affect young hatched the following year. Strictly speaking it is only legal to clear out nest boxes between 1st August and 31st January if there are any abandoned/infertile eggs, so it could be too late to legally clean the box now.
It is not essential to clear old nests though, so if you haven't done it I wouldn't worry too much. Birds will use lots of natural nests sites that have been used in previous years without anyone cleaning them out, so it is not really a major problem.
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Roy's advice is spot on here, cleaning or maintenance of nesting boxes is a job for the autumn, we usually say a job for October or November. Please don't disturb them as they have already started with the early nesting behaviour for this season and any interference could jeopardise their success. They won't have eggs in the nest until March but they will be building and making their chosen site their own from late winter.
However there is no harm in getting another box, fitting your camera and placing this elsewhere on your property. If you can put as much distance as possible between the existing nest and a new one you may encourage another blue tit pair but they are territorial so won't tolerate another pair in their own patch (which varies in size depending on habitat quality). However, a nesting box with a 32mm hole is suitable for house sparrows and great tits which are often found nesting in the same gardens as the blue tits you already have. Tree trunks, north or east facing walls of buildings or fence posts are often good sites for boxes!
Warden Intern at Otmoor.