We believe we might have accidentally stumbled on unknown blue tit behaviour. It would seem that, ‘sometimes’, the female really does start to build the nest, only to empty it all out and start again.
How do we know? Here’s the story….
In March 2021, we had our first blue tit couple start nesting in our new nest box which has a camera in it. Excited, we watched the footage and the outside of the box through the window.
All was going well, until the female started to empty it out. Now we couldn’t be sure if it was the same bird who built it, or another bird emptying it out and stealing the nest box.
Time passed and the nest was rebuilt, eggs were laid and 3 of the six fledged.
This year, March 2022, we were excited to see blue tits nesting again! The nest building was progressing well. Then the same thing happened, a blue tit started clearing it out, just like last year.
However!! This year, the female building the nest has a very large and easily recognizable distinguishing mark on her left cheek. We watched her empty the nest, only to start building it again. The same as last year, the pair were in and out, built the nest, then emptied and started again.
We have searched everywhere for an explanation. There are many stories on the internet of nests being cleared out, but the conclusion is always: “it’s a different pair”.
The fact our female has a very obvious unique distinguishable mark, leads us to believe it might prove it’s a perhaps part of the ritual, even a common behaviour. We have considered, maybe there’s a change in the male, and whilst he is typical in form, we are able to disguise him from other locals, by his shape/ size. He has a very raised bouffant haircut.
They blue tits are back. You can follow
We’ve named them Mandy and Max. Mandy laid six eggs, but sadly Max was taken by a local cat :-(. Mandy soldiered on and 3 baby blue tits fledged :-).
