Nuthatch or Bluetit (1 Viewer)

Can members give opinion...
Friend has a bird box on house wall...recently suffered about 2 weeks of hammering inside...investigated...turns out it was a Nuthatch had been hammering the inside timber box...plenty of small bits of wood on box floor.

Q. Why was the nuthatch doing this?

Friend thought the nuthatch would nest in the box however now there's a raging battle going on with bluetits attempting to occupy the box. Bluetit goes in...nuthatch swoops and shouts etc..thats been going on for about a week now.

Q. Is that normal behavior? Would the nuthatch normally win in such confrontations?..at the mo the Bluetit seems to be prevailing.

And finally, after friend looked inside to find what the Nuthatch had been doing he didn't screw the box top down tightly...he now finds that the gap has been gunked up...I'll attempt to add a picture of this...he's not sure which bird did this however.

Q. Any thoughts which bird would have sealed the box lid gap?

Thanks

the nuthatch sealed the gap, as nuthatches like to glue around with clayey soil.

Sure is the Nuthatches work, they normally seal an entrance hole with mud. Are you sure this one hasn't had access to a drill

Your friend might have to try putting another box up on the wall to help calm the situation.

Ooops...For Bluetit read Greattit.
Pete

Hi Pete

As has been posted, Nuthatches often use mud whether it is to seal up a crack or the entrance hole. It sounds as if both the Nuthatch and Blueys want the box! Hope everything goes OK.