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Nesting jays

I'm a newbie and this is my first post. I have a camera nest box and I'm delighted that blue tits are busy nesting. However, a pair of jays are also nesting i a large shrub nearby. Will they disturb the BTs, or be ignored?
  • Hi Helen and welcome to the forum. I hope you get some good pics of your young if the blue tits do produce this year.   Whether or not the jays will disturb them I'm not sure,  but others on the forum may be able to help.    

  • I don't really know the answer but will bump your post to get someone more expert to help you.

  • Hello Helen and welcome from me at the very top, in Caithness. Not sure about y our question, hope that both hatch and fledge with no problems.

  • Hi Helen and welcome to the community from me too (in Cheshire);   think you'll need an expert to answer your question about the Jays v Blue Tits but with Jays being part of the Corvid family of birds they do eat eggs and chicks but hopefully there is enough alternative natural food around as their preference seems to be peanuts although only kibbled nuts should be put out during nesting season (this is to prevent the possibility of young chicks in the nest being fed whole peanuts by the parents and choking on them).  

    I have had plenty of Jays in the garden although not nesting but never seen them attack a nest box although have seen Magpies, Crows and Great Spotted Woodpeckers target boxes.    I try prevent predation by stapling quarter inch wire mesh to three sides of the box (sides and underneath) and a metal hole plate on the entrance to the nest box.   Of course, the Corvids can still reach in and drag chicks out as they grow and are close to fledging.  Hopefully the Jays will keep enjoying the kibbles nuts, suet, seeds, etc., and leave the Blue Tits alone.   Good luck and hope you see some beautiful chicks in a month or so time.  

    Just an added note;    do not attempt to add any mesh to the box now until early autumn when nesting season is over.   No boxes should be removed or disturbed now breeding season has started.