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[purplenanny]

Maybe clear out the box to get rid of parasites etc.?  DH does ours every Autumn.  The bird may be sitting to judge wind direction, how warm it will be - don't want to cook those fledglings 

Aww, what a thoughtful Mum!
Hubby did used to empty it every year but not happy about climbing that high now
Do you think it will stop them nesting?

[CLKD]

Have a look at the BTO web-site and ask the question - then let us know?  We have a line of sparrow boxes - used by tits rather than  and a new box which I bought at an auction - will be interesting to see if anything goes in.  At least they provide cold weather cover if reuiqred.

[purplenanny]

I will do that x x

[purplenanny]

This is the reply from BTO

While it is a good idea to clean out nest boxes every year, the
presence of an old nest won't put a pair off nesting. They will just
build over the old nest, unless of course the box is full to the brim

So, I may have to be brave, climb a ladder and take a look! I really do want them to nest, but this may be why she keeps looking into the hole, it might be a big nest in there and no more room

[CLKD]

 :thank you:   I have seen birds taking out old nesting material too ……… I have a pair of long tweezers for the task.

Do you have a friendly man who cleans windows or puts up TV aerials? who could drop by with ladders when in the street?

[honeybun]

When I had my Golden Retriever I used to put her hair out for the birds in the spring after I brushed her.
I had the image in my head of all the local birds warm and cosy in nests lined with her hair.


Honeyb
X

[purplenanny]

I do that with my cat's fur HB , I put it in an old peanut feeder in the tree and the birds help themselves

good idea CLKD!   I will keep my eyes open for a friendly man

[honeybun]

I also do it with Bichon fur. She doesn't have hair as such and you could stuff a very comfy cushion or even spin it for wool.

Spoiled birds as well as spoiled pets.


Honeyb
X

[CLKD]

I have a friendly man ………… 

I put my cocker's hair out every time she was brushed.  After she was pts we were clueing out nests and found some of her hair included , but never saw any birds picking it up.

[purplenanny]

I received another reply when I asked why the bird was hesitating at the hole for so long:

Most Blue Tit pairs don't begin building nests until late-March, so there's no particular reason why your bird would be going into the nest box just yet. It may even be an unpaired male that just likes the perch

PN x x

[CLKD]

Oh we *are* a Mine of Information!

[Taz2]

Hi purplenanny - We too have blue and great tits flying in and around the box. I have always thought that at this time of year, when insects are still thin on the ground, there are probably quite a few overwintering in the box so the inside is a food source. Also, in this cold weather, they do roost overnight in the box. I only know this because last week I put the wheely bin out around midnight - forgot to do it earlier - and the bin is placed right under the nest box. I was really startled to have one fly out of the box. It didn't go far and returned within a couple of minutes.

Taz x

[purplenanny]

Hi Taz   

[Hurdity]

Our fieldfares have gone  . A small group have been resident in our orchard and one particularly in neighbours garden - feeding on the apples for the past few months, and they have now left - off on their migration north no doubt.

However there are still some flocks around -  maybe passing through - because a group chattered past me as I went for a sunny walk along the lanes this afternoon! Also heard dunnocks singing spring songs to each other - I know they're common but there were three of them singing from different trees quite close together. Other small birds singing away too - spring is on the way 

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

Birds singing here too