Comments on shirls gardenwatch: Arch Nestbox 2008

Hi there Martin & Sarah, delighted to see that you...

2008-03-30T22:51:00.000+01:00

Hi there Martin & Sarah, delighted to see that you have a blue tit building a nest this year :-)

Yes, I have just gone on my instincts with this one. I am happy now for the birds to choose - which everyway it goes! I will see nesting in some form and that’s the good part. Hopefully I will also see chicks fledge into the garden this time too. So, fingers crossed :-D

Good idea about encouraging roosting, however after a suggestion by another that parasites could be in the shavings which could harm the young chicks I won’t interfere with the outcome now.

Thank-you for your comments, Ah… I’ve always got a few stories to tell… :-D

what a dilemma ! still it looks like there is stil...

2008-03-29T13:26:00.000Z

what a dilemma ! still it looks like there is still a good chance - but perhaps the scales could be tipped in your favour - rather than block off the arch nestbox hole how about putting some wood shavings in there ? then they might roost in there and use the camera box to nest in ? tricky isn't it...
lovely site by the way, you tell a good story too !

Hi again Doug - love that photo at the feeder!Ah… ...

2008-03-27T09:32:00.000Z

Hi again Doug - love that photo at the feeder!

Ah… stories to tell from all gardens with nestboxes at the moment. Will they or won’t they? A waiting game :-D

Doug, these blue tits are just playing with you! Perhaps a few more signs about the garden would do the trick – advertising the desirable accommodation you have to offer. Maybe they are just testing out the other box and will return – slim chance perhaps :-D

Blimey Shirl!Its more complicated than our situati...

2008-03-27T00:09:00.000Z

Blimey Shirl!
Its more complicated than our situation!

I've given up on our pair of Blue Tits.
They've chosen to nest over the road, the little Judases!

So.... I've put a sign on our feeder saying "No Blue Tits allowed" (not that they take any notice!)

Hi again Mike :-)Yes, I think so too.When their vi...

2008-03-26T23:50:00.000Z

Hi again Mike :-)

Yes, I think so too.
When their visits to my garden feeders dropped I knew time was running out for the nestboxes in my garden. If they do use the arch Nestbox I can still watch them from my kitchen window and I will have a rough idea of what they are up to inside too :-D

I would definitely have a go at filming your Nestbox as it is a great way to see what stage the nest could be at. You will also get a rough idea by the numbers of visits per hour :-D

Definately did the right thing here Shirl, best th...

2008-03-26T21:43:00.000Z

Definately did the right thing here Shirl, best they use the new box than go somewhere else. Think we have a pair nesting in my nest box I will have to have a go at filming them. Mike.

Hi there Frances, Lisa, Easygardener, Garden girl,...

2008-03-24T23:30:00.000Z

Hi there Frances, Lisa, Easygardener, Garden girl, Lisa and Jane :-)

Frances – Yes, I do enjoy telling a story. Yep, I think my timing was close in removing the cardboard. Their visits to my garden were becoming less frequent. They may yet be looking at another garden to nest in! Mm… don’t know how to call the outcome at the moment. However it is fascinating whatever happens :-D

Easygardener – Yes it is. However, it would more amusing to see a nest being built! You have no idea how many colour samples come in and out the box!! Yes, the word could be out about the camera – but are there no blue tits interested in being international stars :-D

Garden girl – Yes, nature is without a doubt fascinating! Mm.. don’t they know I have no infra red :-D

Lisa – Yep, I think so too otherwise I would have completely missed nesting too. I wonder though if they will discover that the Camera Nestbox will be both warmer and quieter. Yes, I do wish this pair a successful brood – wherever they build their nest :-D

Jane – They are amusing! The female is tiny too when you see her outside the Nestbox. I suspect we have a first time Mum again. Mm… they are just too fussy for their own good! I never thought of my nestboxes being posh before. However the Arch Nestbox was chosen for its roof – hoping it will keep the rain out of the box. If you do buy a terrace I would advise you to get the type that has only one entrance at the front with the other two at the ends otherwise the one bird may well build in all three compartments as it did with ours. Fingers crossed for a successful brood for your box too :-D

Funny little birds. They know what they want! and ...

2008-03-24T22:09:00.000Z

Funny little birds. They know what they want! and they don't want YOU watching them... Can't get over how posh your boxes are. Love the terrace one as well. I was thinking of getting one like that. I think we have bluetits in our box but no camera in it.

I think you did the right thing. Let the poor lit...

2008-03-24T19:09:00.000Z

I think you did the right thing. Let the poor little dears use the box of choice. They will be more successful that way. This is what you really want anyway, successful nesting.

nature just isn't always very cooperative, is it! ...

2008-03-24T18:22:00.000Z

nature just isn't always very cooperative, is it! Maybe they're a little shy about having a camera in their bedroom!

Very amusing. I think the word's out in bird world...

2008-03-24T16:23:00.000Z

Very amusing. I think the word's out in bird world that you've got a camera in the other box. Those birds must have something to hide.

Shirl that is a fantastic story. And funny too, t...

2008-03-24T16:12:00.000Z

Shirl that is a fantastic story. And funny too, they wanted to use the new box, that's all there was to it. I wonder how long they would have waited for you to remove the cardboard. You did the right thing, let them nest where they want. Maybe the other visitors will build a nest in the camera box and all will be well. Good luck and thanks for sharing this story.
Frances at Faire Garden