Blue Tits nest building in mid March - will it end in disaster? (1 Viewer)

[sunguy]

Here in the UK we have had a really welcomed break in the weather with temperatures topping 20deg C in some areas. However the blue tit that’s been rousting in our birdbox over the winter has started nest building, this in mid March!

Last year we had a similar situation where it got warm early in the year, then after a week or two got cold and wet, during this warm spell last year a nest was built and after a week or two 9 eggs were layed and all eggs hatched but by this time it had got noticeably colder and weter and as a result all the chicks died. I would like to avoid the same situation this year if possible. In past years we have had between 5 and 7 chicks hatch and fledge so the nest box has been quite well used.

Advice please on anything I can do to avoid another disaster.

Thanks in advance.

 

[PYRTLE]

Nothing you can do, it is nature and weather. Nest building and breeding activity is triggered by warmer temperatures, longer daylight hours which also promotes insect and their larvae behaviour.

 

[Richard Prior]

Why not block the entrance hole for a couple of weeks (or until the normal nest building time whenever that is in UK)?

 

[Mike Crawley]

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will correct me but if I remember correctly nesting behaviour is triggered by the length of daylight rather than temperature.

Your best, if not only, option would be to provide a food source like meal worms which the adult birds can use for the chicks.
And keep your fingers crossed.