Bird box progress

Great Tit nest

Back in September 2009, we put up 14 bird boxes in the wood. These were kindly funded by a Thriplow Daffodil Weekend Trust donation.

Blue Tit nest

Boxes were checked for occupancy from the middle of March onwards. In March, 13 of the boxes had nests under construction. By the time we expected birds to have broods, we had 8 boxes with complete nests. However, one of these was deserted without any eggs having been laid, and in one box the Great Tit nestlings had died. This was probably due to the parents having been predated. Fortunately 6 boxes produced fledglings (4 broods of Great Tit and 2 of Blue Tit). I ringed all of these as part of the British Trust for Ornithology's ringing scheme. The final totals were: 57 eggs, 51 nestlings, 41 fledged.

Hopefully next year, more boxes will be occupied and maybe one of the parents will be one of those I ringed this year!