Hello all I'm new here :)
So today in my birdbbox this happened - we've had a resident (I think Great Tit) since December, it (I believe She) leaves every morning and returns every evening. But today the box has been extremely active more than any other day, and then this evening the following happened - see attached video.
The bird that enters first is not the bird that is normally in there - we know this because this one only just made it through the hole - whereas the normal resident bird fits easily. But then as quick as this bird enters, another (I believe to the the regular female resident) came flying in and I think they had a fight? Or some extremely rough xxx lol just wondering what anyone else thinks, I have no idea I'm new to this bird stuff and it's fascinating :)
Hi Shano, looks like the original great tit has been roosting in the box overnight and going out and about during the day, it has obviously liked the box. Now along comes another great tit and has decided that it wants the box as well, original one not having any of this, a good old spat took place. Will be interesting to see who wins. Good you have a camera, keep watching and updating us. Hopefully you will have an active nest, keep us updated
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Definitely territorial battle. Re struggling to squeeze in, IMO, the second bird had hold of the first one....or at least was trying to. Hence the struggle the first one had getting inside. Very hard to know for sure which was the original bird, as the territory obviously extends. I agree it is likely the latter bird was the original. Is there another nest site or nest box fairly near to this one? (either inside or outside your garden).
We had a similar experience. No fighting yet and this is the 4th night they've slept together. I really hope they don't fight.
Hi all and thanks for your answers I appreciate everyone who took the time to respond.
So the day after I posted this the lodger didn't return for a few days whatsoever - but then 3 days later she returned and started to build the nest. Some days she has bee very active so yesterday, 62 times she returned to the box with nesting materials. Today she returned for the night for the first time in a couple of weeks.
I wanted to share with you all some of the videos from the past few weeks - I've only posted one video so hopefully I can post multiple videos, I'm posting them from oldest to newest, but all are from past few weeks :)
I'm definitely getting chicks.
Exciting Shano, keep us updated, hope you get babies
Thankyou :) I sure will.
Also thanks for your original reply, I appreciate it :)
Here's to the potential arrival of new chicks