First post ever, I love feeding birds and monitoring nest boxes, but I am still new to this and have an unusual family taking up residence and need advice.
Background information. I have been putting up nest boxes for 3 years. The first year a pair of bluebirds took up residence and we fledged 3 beautiful little bluebirds. The second year an obviously non bluebird nest showed up and I removed it , same type of nest 2 days later. Figured I should research it before removing it a second time. Turns out it was a black capped chickadee nest. We fledged 5 awesome little chickadees.
This year we moved a few miles down the road. I put my boxes back out hoping for something. Within 3 days a nest appeared. Obviously not bluebird, and seemed different than the chickadees. I spent a week trying to figure out what kind of nest it was. I work 60 to 80 hours a week, so I have minimal time to sit and watch the nest. Anyway, turns out it is tufted titmice. I understand they are less tolerant than blues for nest monitoring? I was able to monitor the blues and the BCC's almost daily without issue.
Tonight I go to the go to monitor it (have only been found it every 3 days or so) and when I lightly tapped on the box , the momma hoped into the hole, looked at me, jumped out hovered eye level for about 5 seconds two feet from my face then darted into a tree. I quickly monitored found 6 eggs and then departed. I then went to change out my hummingbird nectar and kept an eye on the box from about 50 feet. I never her saw her go back in, but did see her peeking out the hole at me. I was relieved as I did not want her to abandon the nest.
I am going to reduce monitoring to once weekly and hope I do not spook them. I was looking for any feedback I could get from here using your personal experiences? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Background information. I have been putting up nest boxes for 3 years. The first year a pair of bluebirds took up residence and we fledged 3 beautiful little bluebirds. The second year an obviously non bluebird nest showed up and I removed it , same type of nest 2 days later. Figured I should research it before removing it a second time. Turns out it was a black capped chickadee nest. We fledged 5 awesome little chickadees.
This year we moved a few miles down the road. I put my boxes back out hoping for something. Within 3 days a nest appeared. Obviously not bluebird, and seemed different than the chickadees. I spent a week trying to figure out what kind of nest it was. I work 60 to 80 hours a week, so I have minimal time to sit and watch the nest. Anyway, turns out it is tufted titmice. I understand they are less tolerant than blues for nest monitoring? I was able to monitor the blues and the BCC's almost daily without issue.
Tonight I go to the go to monitor it (have only been found it every 3 days or so) and when I lightly tapped on the box , the momma hoped into the hole, looked at me, jumped out hovered eye level for about 5 seconds two feet from my face then darted into a tree. I quickly monitored found 6 eggs and then departed. I then went to change out my hummingbird nectar and kept an eye on the box from about 50 feet. I never her saw her go back in, but did see her peeking out the hole at me. I was relieved as I did not want her to abandon the nest.
I am going to reduce monitoring to once weekly and hope I do not spook them. I was looking for any feedback I could get from here using your personal experiences? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks