Tuesday 10 May 2011

A new family

A few years ago, whilst shopping in Asda, I threw this "decorative" bird box in my shopping trolley. It was fixed to a fence for years, and hung about looking decorative. At the end of last year, I hung it on a rusty nail on the wall outside of the kitchen window as the fancy pot that had hung there had fallen off and smashed in a strong wind. Never for one moment did I think birds would find it a "des res". The amount of foot fall traffic the passes by is considerable. A basketball is often thrown against the wall, and we are in the garden a lot. So one day when I noticed a couple of Blue Tits obviously nest building, I was delighted, but also fairly alarmed, as the box isn't very securely fixed, and it as a bit of an angle!

On Sunday, we noticed both birds busily bringing mouthfuls of bugs back. They gradually got confident with hubby and I hanging about in the garden too. I tried to photograph them dropping in, but they are too fast for my camera!
On my way past it on Sunday evening, I could hear a few little baby tweets coming from the box, so it sounds like we have a new family on the block.
Next year I shall erect a proper RSPB bird box.

33 comments:

Paula said...

That's a cute birdhouse, we have one that we made ourselves at the bottom of the garden and it took over a year for the birds that feed from our feeders to get used to it and recently we've spotted one going in and out several times a day, trouble is it's so fast I only managed to take one very shaky photo of it.

Me and Tilly Too said...

How brilliant to have blue tits nesting in your garden. It doesn't matter how old you are, it's always exciting and to hear the babies chirping away inside. Keep trying with the camera, you'll get the shot eventually. Have a good day. Lesley x

Shortbread and Ginger said...

What a lovely story! Enjoy your little visitors.
Liz

Elizabethd said...

How exciting for you. It will be fun to watch the babies when they first fly.

harmony and rosie said...

That is so exciting. We've had blue tits in our box several years running and it is just fantastic for the children when the babies tumble out. I keep nagging for one of those nest boxes with inbuilt camera - that's never going to happen!!

Gilly said...

We've had a bird box up in an eminently suitable place - but do the tits like it? Do they heck!

Obviously I need to hang it by the back door!!

Try and be around when the babies fly p they are so cute!

Janet said...

Congratulations ! we have quite a few bird boxes and not one is in use !

Clare said...

We have put up two birdhouses this year - but no luck yet... not sure they are in the best places, and probably need to be a bit patient too! (not my strongest characteristic)
Can't wait to see the photo's that you will no doubt eventually capture!
Clare
x

two bones and a bagle said...

Cheep cheep I would be v excited to have birds nesting in my garden -my Dad used to get them regularly in his home made boxes and it was always really exciting. Well done.

Pennyblossoms said...

What a lovely story. We had tits nest in a hole in the wall for several years but I don't think many little ones made it. They would fall out and then I'd be doing 'tit rescue' from our cats!
Thankfully they now seem to favour the tree at the end of the garden!
I saw the first swallows/swifts on Friday, which always makes me happy!
Z xx

topchelseagirl said...

How lovely. I have 2 bird boxes up but no sign of any interest - probably due to all the neighbours cats.

Diane said...

It is a lovely experience to know that you have youngsters in the garden :-) Hope the box stays put long enough for them all to emerge intact. Diane

A garden just outside Venice said...

Diane, I wish I could send on your way the lovely swallows which have nested in my garage, since you're so welcoming! Ggggrrr, I hate them,spots everywhere, especially on my car! :)
xxxx

Little Blue Mouse said...

What a coincidence, I've just been blogging about blue tits nesting in out tractor!

Rosie said...

I remember you telling me on Saturday about your nesting birds in the decorative bird house. You are so lucky to have blue tits nesting there - you will have great fun watching the little ones fledge:)

Rosie said...

forgot to say - I've added the photo to my last post:)

Jo said...

How exciting, keep watching, you don't want to miss the babies leave. We used to have blue tits nest in a home made box every year when I was a child, but the box I've had hung up for a few years in my own garden has never been used, I really need to move it.

sarah-jane down the lane said...

I have e-mailed Kate Humble and Chris Packham they are on their way.... tee hee,

Sarah x

diane b said...

How exciting to have your own family of birds. It is funny how they found it when ou weren't even trying to encourage them.

**Anne** said...

How wonderful to have birds nesting so close to you. It will be lovely when the little ones start coming out.
Anne xx

Jackie, Erik, Jake, Drew said...

That's one way of putting it?! You could also say you are too slow?! Hahaha. I love the sound of baby tweets. We've had some really windy weather here, thankfully not the tornado's that have hit the rest of the country, but enough to blow a lot of birds nests including eggs on the floor. Jake wanted to take one egg home and sit on it so it would hatch. I love the simple thoughts kids have. xx

periwinkle said...

oh wow , lucky you x

Vintage Tea Time said...

Brilliant - esp that it happened in such a casual way!

Carol said...

That is a lovely Bird Box, and the birds must think so too. It is lovely to them flying in and out. You will just have to stake out for a while with camera at the ready to zap!
Cx

Mandy said...

When they get Really busy and look on the verge of exhaustion is when the birds are about to fledge. With luck you may be able to see that.

Pomona said...

We have a bird family in a nesting box that fell down and became wedged in the crook of a tree - I dread high winds, but it doesn't seem to bother them!

Pomona x

Lisa said...

How lovely to have a new family in your back garden. T made a bird box at cubs but it got hidden in his wardrobe, they won't find it in there! Shall have to make sure it gets put outside soon.
Lisa x

Kathy said...

Oh that's lovely ... we've got no takers in our birdhouse this year. I love watching the busy parents feeding their chicks! They work so hard!
xxx

BadPenny said...

They must love it there ! I'm doing a post about " No place like home " - they obviously feel very at home in your pretty house. So sweet.

potterjotter said...

Same thing happened here - I stuck one on a tree yards away from where we sit of an evening on the patio and the bluetits were just fearless ... or desperate!

Rowan said...

Hope your little bird family is still doing well. It will be fun to watch them learning to fly when the time comes.

John Going Gently said...

apologies for my cheeky comment
x

noelle said...

Hi Diane, I love that, your little family of birds! I have a little box on my fence quite high up but I haven't noticed anyone moved in I think my feline friends might put them off a little!! xx