Thanks
to Sophie Acheson from Springhill
for this interesting
account on Springhill nest boxes.
In the winter of 2007 twelve bird boxes were put up in the
mixed woodland,
on different tree species, at
Springhill, Moneymore.
Brian Hunter
generously made and donated to
a variety of nest boxes for this project. A specialized
Tree Creeper
box was included to encourage
an already resident pair of tree creepers. Additional bird boxes were put
up by Mrs. Alison Kirk with help
from the Magherafelt (Three Spires)
Cub and Scout group.
This autumn (2008)
the nest boxes were taken down and inspected for signs of use.
Brian Hunter, Richard Kirk and I disinfected and repaired boxes
where
necessary.
An important exercise as the boxes may harbour fleas
and parasites which could infect the
following year’s chicks.
The findings from each numbered box
are recorded below.
|
Nest
box number |
Tree
species |
Nest
found |
Comment |
|
1 |
Beech |
Yes
|
Blue tit |
|
2 |
Oak
|
No
|
|
|
3
( Tree Creeper box)
|
Oak
|
No
|
Moved to other side of tree |
|
4
|
Oak
|
Yes
|
Blue tit |
|
5 |
Birch |
Unfinished |
|
|
6 |
Pine |
No
|
Moved to another pine |
|
7 |
Pine |
Yes
|
Blue tit |
|
8 |
Ash
|
No
|
|
|
9 |
Pine |
No
|
Moved to another pine |
|
10 |
Sycamore |
Yes
|
Blue tit |
|
11 |
Sycamore |
Yes
|
Box
to be repaired |
|
12 |
Oak |
Yes
|
Blue tit |
|
13 |
Oak |
No
|
|
6 of the 13 boxes were found to have Blue Tit nests,
consisting mainly of moss and sheep’s wool. The female lays eggs in April
or May,
usually with a clutch of 7-13
eggs. These are
incubated only by the female and take 12-14
days
to hatch.
Incubation only starts when all the eggs are laid ensuring that they all
hatch at about the same time.Blue
Tit eggs are smooth, glossy and white
with reddish brown spots.
During incubation
the male
brings the female food,
while she only leaves the nest to quickly find additional food,
drink, bathe and clean her
feathers.
The checks hatch without feathers and
shut
eyes.
The youngsters fledge the nest after about 16-22
days,
when feathers have grown and
eyes
have opened.
In theory,
from the six nests in the boxes we could have had a as many as 78 new Blue
Tits this year,
a promising start.
Where boxes were unused
we relocated them
either to the opposite side of the tree or
too
a different tree altogether in the hope
that the new site would be more preferable.
This winter we
are planning to put up more bird boxes and increase the number of possible
nesting sites for next spring.
Hopefully we will encourage other species to nest and with a bit of luck
this year’s Blue Tits will return next spring.
Some photographs of nest boxes and Blue Tit
eggs will be added later
