Nest boxes and squirrels (1 Viewer)

Metermaid

Well-known member

• Oct 9, 2004

• #1

Do squirrels raid nest boxes for eggs ? Having recently moved I have just put up a blue tit box in a large oak........yesterday the squirrel was sitting on top. Should I be worried - I feel there is nowhere really I can put the box where he couldn't get to it.

Any comments/advice welcome !!

Thanks

Rita

 

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Elizabeth Bigg

Addicted member

• Oct 9, 2004

• #2

We regularly have 2 or 3 squirrels in the garden, and occasionally have seen one sitting on a box, but we've never had a problem when the birds have been using the boxes. It was a great spotted woodpecker which raided a box last year - it took 3 of the 5 chicks, when they were getting close to fledging. BTW - we have had 3 or 4 weeks with no squirrel sightings recently, but they are back now, unfortunately.

 

Metermaid

Well-known member

• Oct 9, 2004

• #3

Gosh Elizabeth, I had no idea GSWs did that ! - I have been so excited that 'our' GSW has become a very regular visitor - maybe come spring I won't be so pleased to see him !

 

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Elizabeth Bigg

Addicted member

• Oct 9, 2004

• #4

Metermaid said:

Gosh Elizabeth, I had no idea GSWs did that ! - I have been so excited that 'our' GSW has become a very regular visitor - maybe come spring I won't be so pleased to see him !

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We were not monitoring the box when the first two vanished (computer problems at the time), and at first we thought they might just have fledged early - but we had evidence when the third one went, so realised that the other two must have gone the same way. This year, we added a CCTV type camera to monitor the outside as well, and with other additions to the equipment, were able to watch the inside and outside of both of the boxes at the same time - the birds had their own computer for a few months!!!

 

Metermaid

Well-known member

• Oct 9, 2004

• #5

wow...good stuff! must make fascinating watching

 

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Elizabeth Bigg

Addicted member

• Oct 9, 2004

• #6

Metermaid said:

wow...good stuff! must make fascinating watching

Click to expand...

It certainly did - we had the computer in the study, between our PCs, and I spent most of my life in here - better than TV any day!