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Hi - I'm a newbie so this may have been asked before.
I have recently installed a camera birdbox and within two days it was occupied by a bluetit.
Each time it enters the box its starts tapping the bottom of the box with its beak quite violently.
I - and my grandson, who is a junior member - would love to know the cause of this behaviour
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I've heard and saw our tits doing that in my nest box via the camera-sounded like minature woodpeckers lol, it possibly could be a display behaviour and checking the solidness of the wood to make sure its not rotten so its a safe and secure place to nest.
thanks -yes certainly i'd love to share some photos, i've got a few, perhaps even of our bluetits if they carry on nesting in my box-fingers crossed
Turn the music down lol
Tits do peck about a lot seem to be removing little splinters etc .With the camera boxes we are now seeing behavour we haven't seen before
Ray
Big welcome
Hi. Just looked at advice page on RSPB site and found this . .
Tits are regularly seen hammering away at the entrance hole of a nestbox. This is probably a form of display by the male, rather than an attempt to enlarge the hole.
Later, the female will also peck vigorously: natural holes may have all the surrounding bark chipped away. This may help her to judge how soft the wood is and whether the hole will provide a safe, predator-proof home in which to raise her brood. Blue and great tits will also hammer at the inside of a box or nest hole, perhaps as a form of display.
Hope that helps.
Sue
We've got some Blue Tits in a nest and I heard a tapping noise coming from inside the box. It did confuse me. :/
We've had a camera box for six years now and have observed this behaviour from about a month before they actually begin nesting. I've read theories that it's to widen the hole, but this can't be right as they tap inside extensively. It's also not to remove old materials as we watch them tap an empty box for weeks. It may be display or bond-creating, and I've recently read that it may serve to keep their bills short and sharp (this grows throughout the bird's life), but so far we are at a loss to account for this behaviour and would love any insight from anyone else
I'm visiting family in Shropshire and my dad has been observing this behaviour for a few weeks. Glad I found this conversation, I was going to suggest he file the hole to help make it bigger for them! I'm new to this, is it possible to upload pictures?
Hello Nicola,
first of all: Welcome to the forum. It is always great fun to look around here.
You want to know how to upload pictures? Have a look at the "Community Home"-page. There you will find a post "How to: Struggling? See if we have the answers". There are tips and tricks for more problems.
Good luck with the pictures!
Yours, Bente