I have a camera inside a nest box in my garden and have had blue tits nesting in the box for a few weeks now and the female had started roosting.
Some days ago, however, I saw a cat in the tree which I chased away. When I subsequently looked at the images from the video camera the nice neat nest appeared to be very messy and there has been no further activity in the nest. I fear that the cat managed to get in to the box (the lid wasn't secured very well) and has killed the female - there has been no subsequent roosting and I have only seen 1 bird returning to the box - although (he?) only looks in the hole and does not enter it.
My question is - should I clear out the nest in the hope that another pair will build one, although possibly too late now, or should I just leave the nest alone and see what happens? I don't think another pair will use an already built nest, but I don't know. I know it is illegal to interfere with nests, but I am certain the female has gone and the nest abandoned.
Any suggestions?
Some days ago, however, I saw a cat in the tree which I chased away. When I subsequently looked at the images from the video camera the nice neat nest appeared to be very messy and there has been no further activity in the nest. I fear that the cat managed to get in to the box (the lid wasn't secured very well) and has killed the female - there has been no subsequent roosting and I have only seen 1 bird returning to the box - although (he?) only looks in the hole and does not enter it.
My question is - should I clear out the nest in the hope that another pair will build one, although possibly too late now, or should I just leave the nest alone and see what happens? I don't think another pair will use an already built nest, but I don't know. I know it is illegal to interfere with nests, but I am certain the female has gone and the nest abandoned.
Any suggestions?
