December is a good month for putting up and checking out nest boxes. I have around a dozen scattered throughout the wood in different locations and for different species of birds... those with small round holes for Blue Tits, bigger ones for Great Tits and Nuthatches, a huge box for a Tawny Owl and even a box for bats to roost in. Every year I aim to clean out the bird boxes when I can to prevent the build up of parasites and also check them out generally - there is a healthy debate among naturalists about the wisdom of doing this but I always have and will continue to do so, until the arguments against get stronger. The birds readily make new nests in the spring using fresh materials so it does not seem to discourage them. This year I treated myself to a new box as a late birthday present to myself and put it on one of our tallest oak trees. I generally put up boxes made of a material called Woodcrete as its really tough and prevents Great Spotted Woodpeckers from trying to get in and grab any chicks inside for their own youngsters. These boxes are more expensive but worth the investment in the long term,
One of the boxes has been used by Nuthatches for several years now and each year I have to chip my way in through the layer of clay that they seal the front up with. Its a fascinating bit of evolution presumably to really ensure that any young birds are safe and sound. Inside, the nest itself is comprised entirely of flakes of bark collected form pine trees, and nothing softer. And in one of the boxes used this year by Blue Tits I found a solitary egg, presumably infertile....such a wonderful tiny thing.
As Christmas approaches one of our recent visits was to collect Holly berries before the Redwings eat them all up. These winter thrushes come every year and if we don't get there in time they will strip the bush. We usually manage to share the berries fairly equally with them.......it is the season of goodwill after all..
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| This was used by Blue Tits last year |
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| The clay spread around the inside of the nest box front by the Nuthatches |
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| The Nuthatchs' labours to seal themselves in |
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| Woodpeckers have tried to gain entry to this box, the soft wood is no barrier |
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| This box is meant for bats but Blue Tits are using it, note the woodpecker damage to the Woodcrete |
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| More woodpecker activity - a box I made especially for Tree Creepers |
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| The Blue Tit's speckled egg which failed to hatch last Spring |
