Unfortunately the bird didn’t return after that. I guess it was already too dark for him to come back. So the blue tit will not spend New Years Eve in the box. Hopefully he will be back tomorrow!
Saturday 31 December 2011
We made too much noise and scared the bird away :(
My neighbours and myself apparently made too much noise near the bird box around sunset when we were having a conversation while standing next to the box. We saw the bird fly out. See below the video footage from the box.
Unfortunately the bird didn’t return after that. I guess it was already too dark for him to come back. So the blue tit will not spend New Years Eve in the box. Hopefully he will be back tomorrow!
Unfortunately the bird didn’t return after that. I guess it was already too dark for him to come back. So the blue tit will not spend New Years Eve in the box. Hopefully he will be back tomorrow!
Monday 26 December 2011
More visit statistics
The box is now used every night by a blue tit for roosting and it is still checked several times per day by different blue tits. I haven't seen any great tits checking the box in the last 10 days.
Thursday 22 December 2011
Two birds in the box for the first time.
22 December 2011
One bird enters the bird box and his friend just looks inside but doesn't enter...
But eventually there are two birds in the box at the same time, although it is only for a fraction of a second....
One bird enters the bird box and his friend just looks inside but doesn't enter...
But eventually there are two birds in the box at the same time, although it is only for a fraction of a second....
Wednesday 21 December 2011
Visit statistics of the bird box
I admit that I'm a complete nerd and I'm actually proud of it. See below a graph that shows for the past 5 days when there was a bird in the box and when a bird looked inside the box but did not enter.
Who spent the night in my bird box?
21 December 2011
Captured the following image of the fly out this morning
I tried to do some identification on the bird to confirm if this is the same bird as before. On the image below you see a comparison between an image captured on 19 December (left) and the one captured today (right). Comparing some small details on his face, it appears to be the same bird.
However, identification is not so easy because the camera is out of focus for this position, the bird is usually moving fast and plumage looks very different in infrared. Also the angle at which we see the bird can make it look very different. Note the distinctive eye marking above the left eye of today’s bird!
Captured the following image of the fly out this morning
I tried to do some identification on the bird to confirm if this is the same bird as before. On the image below you see a comparison between an image captured on 19 December (left) and the one captured today (right). Comparing some small details on his face, it appears to be the same bird.
However, identification is not so easy because the camera is out of focus for this position, the bird is usually moving fast and plumage looks very different in infrared. Also the angle at which we see the bird can make it look very different. Note the distinctive eye marking above the left eye of today’s bird!
Tuesday 20 December 2011
The answer: many birds investigate the bird box
20 December 2011
Just witnessed a large group (around 5-10) of blue tits feeding in and around the tree where the bird box is located. Several of them looked inside and one of them flew in. So now it is clear to me that many birds at least investigated the box.
I was able to capture some images of characteristic birds. The one below has a distinctive marking above his left eye
…and the one below (that actually flew into the box) had a small rather narrow line on his forehead
So now it is clear that many birds visit or investigate the box. The only thing I’m still wondering about is if the blue tit that I have seen roosting in the box is always the same one…
Just witnessed a large group (around 5-10) of blue tits feeding in and around the tree where the bird box is located. Several of them looked inside and one of them flew in. So now it is clear to me that many birds at least investigated the box.
I was able to capture some images of characteristic birds. The one below has a distinctive marking above his left eye
…and the one below (that actually flew into the box) had a small rather narrow line on his forehead
So now it is clear that many birds visit or investigate the box. The only thing I’m still wondering about is if the blue tit that I have seen roosting in the box is always the same one…
So, how many different birds are visiting?
20 December 2011
At least one great tit and one blue tit have roosted in the box and I have video evidence of at least one more blue tit peeking inside.
The blue tit that roosted here the last 2 nights was a bright looking bird. Today I have witnessed (by looking out of my window) that both a bright and a dull looking bird looked inside the box. On video it is usually difficult to see the difference. However, I captured these pictures of two clearly different birds. On the left the bright one, on the right the dull one. Note the spots on his face. Perhaps I can use that for future identification.
At least one great tit and one blue tit have roosted in the box and I have video evidence of at least one more blue tit peeking inside.
The blue tit that roosted here the last 2 nights was a bright looking bird. Today I have witnessed (by looking out of my window) that both a bright and a dull looking bird looked inside the box. On video it is usually difficult to see the difference. However, I captured these pictures of two clearly different birds. On the left the bright one, on the right the dull one. Note the spots on his face. Perhaps I can use that for future identification.
Monday 19 December 2011
Is more than one blue tit visiting the box?
19 December 2011
I simply assumed that it is always the same blue tit that visits the box. But who knows? Today I captured a video that shows a blue tit peeking through the entrance while another bird is already inside.
I simply assumed that it is always the same blue tit that visits the box. But who knows? Today I captured a video that shows a blue tit peeking through the entrance while another bird is already inside.
WTF is this??
19 December 2011
What is that in the entrance? Could that be the bill of some bigger bird, or is it simply a the tail of a blue tit or great tit? I better remove the branches near the entrance for extra safety….
What is that in the entrance? Could that be the bill of some bigger bird, or is it simply a the tail of a blue tit or great tit? I better remove the branches near the entrance for extra safety….
Rise and shine...
18 December 2011
The bird leaves the house at 7:44:07
From my window I can see him landing in a bush about 3 meters from the bird box, where he starts grooming himself. After a few minutes he flies to a conifer tree to have his breakfast.
The bird leaves the house at 7:44:07
From my window I can see him landing in a bush about 3 meters from the bird box, where he starts grooming himself. After a few minutes he flies to a conifer tree to have his breakfast.
More images captured at the entrance
17 December 2011
Today the blue tit has visited the box many times. Sometimes he spent some time inside the box, sometimes he just peeked in.
Peeking in
Peeking in, then flying in
By the way, I have not seen the great tit at all today….
Today the blue tit has visited the box many times. Sometimes he spent some time inside the box, sometimes he just peeked in.
Peeking in
Peeking in, then flying in
By the way, I have not seen the great tit at all today….
Blue tit wakes up
17 December 2011
I have run the camera + PC the whole night, automatically and continuously monitoring the entrance of the box. Now I can really confirm that a blue tit spent the night in the bird box. Yesterday the bird entered the box for the night at 16:07:08 and today the bird left the box for the first time at 7:36:00.
I have run the camera + PC the whole night, automatically and continuously monitoring the entrance of the box. Now I can really confirm that a blue tit spent the night in the bird box. Yesterday the bird entered the box for the night at 16:07:08 and today the bird left the box for the first time at 7:36:00.
Blue tit catches spider
16 December 2011
Interesting images just keep coming today! Not so long after I had turned the camera, the blue tit came back to the box. In the video you see a spider crawling down. Then the bird catches the spider and flies away with it.
The reason the spider is walking there is probably because while opening the box I had damaged some spider nests inside the double ceiling of the box. This poor spider was looking for a new home.
Interesting images just keep coming today! Not so long after I had turned the camera, the blue tit came back to the box. In the video you see a spider crawling down. Then the bird catches the spider and flies away with it.
The reason the spider is walking there is probably because while opening the box I had damaged some spider nests inside the double ceiling of the box. This poor spider was looking for a new home.
Blue tit checks if the box is still allright after my visit
16 December 2011
To check who is flying in and out, I thought it would be interesting to temporarily turn the camera towards the opening of the box. Of course I need to take great care not to disturb the birds. I know that in the late afternoon there is usually not much going on in the box and as an extra check I can use the built-in microphone of the camera to listen if there is anything moving in the box.
When I was sure there was no bird inside the box, I went to the garden with the intention to open the box quickly and turn the camera. But when I approached the box, I immediately heard the alarm call of a blue tit. It was in perched in some bushes, just about 3 meters from the bird box. I thought this could be the same bird that uses the box and decided not to open the box at this moment because it might scare him to visit the box later. However, I did peek through the opening of the box for a few seconds.
Then I went back inside my flat and noticed that my PC had made a recording. It turned out that the blue tit had entered the bird box within less than one minute after I left! It is as if he wanted to check if everything was still allright! See the video below
Some time later I went back to the garden again. At that time the bird was not around, or at least I didn't see it nor did I hear any alarm calls. I then quickly opened the box and turned the camera. Let's see if this gives me some interesting images....
By the way, I have now also discovered where the bird is roosting inside the box outside the view of the camera. He is probably sitting on the cable that leads to the camera! This will remain out of view.
To check who is flying in and out, I thought it would be interesting to temporarily turn the camera towards the opening of the box. Of course I need to take great care not to disturb the birds. I know that in the late afternoon there is usually not much going on in the box and as an extra check I can use the built-in microphone of the camera to listen if there is anything moving in the box.
When I was sure there was no bird inside the box, I went to the garden with the intention to open the box quickly and turn the camera. But when I approached the box, I immediately heard the alarm call of a blue tit. It was in perched in some bushes, just about 3 meters from the bird box. I thought this could be the same bird that uses the box and decided not to open the box at this moment because it might scare him to visit the box later. However, I did peek through the opening of the box for a few seconds.
Then I went back inside my flat and noticed that my PC had made a recording. It turned out that the blue tit had entered the bird box within less than one minute after I left! It is as if he wanted to check if everything was still allright! See the video below
Some time later I went back to the garden again. At that time the bird was not around, or at least I didn't see it nor did I hear any alarm calls. I then quickly opened the box and turned the camera. Let's see if this gives me some interesting images....
By the way, I have now also discovered where the bird is roosting inside the box outside the view of the camera. He is probably sitting on the cable that leads to the camera! This will remain out of view.
Did the blue tit just fend off an intruder?
16 December 2011
It's been a really interesting day so far. The day started with evidence of a great tit having spent the night and doing some housekeeping (see previous post). After the great tit left, there have been several visits of a blue tit. This blue tit also threw poop out of the box. I really don’t know if this has any meaning, but to me it only makes sense if they both consider the box “theirs”. And again I saw the blue tit flying out with some wood shavings. I still don’t know why.
But the most exciting video of today is below. Of course I cannot be sure because the entrance is not visible, but does this video show the blue tit defending “his” house to an intruder?
It's been a really interesting day so far. The day started with evidence of a great tit having spent the night and doing some housekeeping (see previous post). After the great tit left, there have been several visits of a blue tit. This blue tit also threw poop out of the box. I really don’t know if this has any meaning, but to me it only makes sense if they both consider the box “theirs”. And again I saw the blue tit flying out with some wood shavings. I still don’t know why.
But the most exciting video of today is below. Of course I cannot be sure because the entrance is not visible, but does this video show the blue tit defending “his” house to an intruder?
Does any bird spend the night in my bird box?
16 December 2011
All this time I was wondering why none of the birds was spending the night in the box. After all, it was well below freezing recently. Well, today I got my answer.
So I kept the camera running and just before sunrise the motion detection triggered a recording that reveals the tail of a bird that is apparently perched at a position outside the range of the camera.
Sometime later I catch the following video. It appears this great tit is not entering the box but jumping down from the position inside the box where earlier the tail of the bird could be seen. This seems to confirm that the great tit has indeed spent the night in the box.
Another interesting thing in this video is that the great tit does some housekeeping, throwing poop out of the box.
All this time I was wondering why none of the birds was spending the night in the box. After all, it was well below freezing recently. Well, today I got my answer.
Early this morning (it was still dark) I switched on the camera and noticed new bird poop in the box, but no bird in sight. Assuming that the bird will not fly in and out in the dark, that would mean that there is a bird in the box, but outside the view of the camera. This is possible because the camera is aimed at the floor and I cannot see the opening. So could it be that a bird flies in undetected and roosts somewhere above the camera, perhaps even sitting on top of the camera (there is not much space but who knows?).
Sometime later I catch the following video. It appears this great tit is not entering the box but jumping down from the position inside the box where earlier the tail of the bird could be seen. This seems to confirm that the great tit has indeed spent the night in the box.
Another interesting thing in this video is that the great tit does some housekeeping, throwing poop out of the box.
Great tit and blue tit both visiting today
15 December 2011
Today there were visits of both the great tit and the blue tit.
Here is the great tit. Note that at 0:29 in the video he tries to throw poop out of the window. Does that mean that he considers this to be his “house” and hence keeps it clean?
Then one hour later the blue tit visits (the great tit is not in the box).
Today there were visits of both the great tit and the blue tit.
Here is the great tit. Note that at 0:29 in the video he tries to throw poop out of the window. Does that mean that he considers this to be his “house” and hence keeps it clean?
Then one hour later the blue tit visits (the great tit is not in the box).
...an now a great tit is visiting
14 December 2011
Interesting new developments here! I was getting used to the blue tit visiting the box several times a day, but today I saw a great tit visiting the box a few times. See the video below. Near the end of the movie the great tit is hanging on the camera!
This could get interesting, because the blue tit and great tit can be in direct competition for the bird box. The great tit is almost twice the weight of the blue tit so it should win any dispute.
Interesting new developments here! I was getting used to the blue tit visiting the box several times a day, but today I saw a great tit visiting the box a few times. See the video below. Near the end of the movie the great tit is hanging on the camera!
This could get interesting, because the blue tit and great tit can be in direct competition for the bird box. The great tit is almost twice the weight of the blue tit so it should win any dispute.
Blue tit is stealing my wood shavings!
10 November 2011
I noticed something interesting today. The blue tit is stealing the wood shavings from the bird box! He is not just throwing them out, but he flies away with them to a location that I have yet to discover. Not sure what this means. This behaviour went on for a few weeks, slowly depleting the bird box of the wood shavings. What does He need it for? And why does he take just a tiny amount almost every day?
I noticed something interesting today. The blue tit is stealing the wood shavings from the bird box! He is not just throwing them out, but he flies away with them to a location that I have yet to discover. Not sure what this means. This behaviour went on for a few weeks, slowly depleting the bird box of the wood shavings. What does He need it for? And why does he take just a tiny amount almost every day?
First images!
8 November 2011
Today I have captured the first images of a blue tit visiting my bird box!
First evidence of bird visit!
6 November 2011
And here is the first evidence of a visit to the bird box! The wood shavings have moved and there is bird poo in the box. In addition to that, the spider that used to live here for the past weeks has disappeared (R.I.P., I suspect….) . I have not yet spotted the bird himself, but I will now start running the camera continuously for the coming days.
And here is the first evidence of a visit to the bird box! The wood shavings have moved and there is bird poo in the box. In addition to that, the spider that used to live here for the past weeks has disappeared (R.I.P., I suspect….) . I have not yet spotted the bird himself, but I will now start running the camera continuously for the coming days.
Bird box up and running!
25 June 2011
Bird box is now up and running! Note that I have put cedar shavings in the box for two reasons. First of all it serves as a lining (if the birds don’t like it they will throw it out anyway). But it also allows me to see if a bird has visited the box (the shavings will have moved). This is quite handy since I will not be running the camera continuously. Anyway, I don’t think anything will happen until late autumn when some bird might use the box to roost.
Bird box is now up and running! Note that I have put cedar shavings in the box for two reasons. First of all it serves as a lining (if the birds don’t like it they will throw it out anyway). But it also allows me to see if a bird has visited the box (the shavings will have moved). This is quite handy since I will not be running the camera continuously. Anyway, I don’t think anything will happen until late autumn when some bird might use the box to roost.
About the bird box
Let me start by giving you some details about the bird box. I bought this as a complete kit. The bird box is made out of 18mm cedar wood and has an entrance opening of 28mm. This is big enough for blue tits and great tits, but small enough to prevent predators from getting in.
There is a 540 line CCD camera inside the bird box. During the daytime there is enough light coming in through resin windows at the sides and through the entrance opening to allow for colour images. At night the camera switches to infrared. I can record the video on my PC and my PC can check for movement to trigger a recording.
The bird box is located on a birch tree about 2 meters above ground. The entrance is facing northeast.
There is a 540 line CCD camera inside the bird box. During the daytime there is enough light coming in through resin windows at the sides and through the entrance opening to allow for colour images. At night the camera switches to infrared. I can record the video on my PC and my PC can check for movement to trigger a recording.
The bird box is located on a birch tree about 2 meters above ground. The entrance is facing northeast.
Welcome to my blog!
On this blog I will report on the developments in and around a bird box that I put in my garden last summer. Of course I hope that in the spring a couple of birds will make it their home to raise a family!
Originally I never intended to make a blog or anything like that. But when in November a few birds started to show interest in it as a place to roost and I started to observe some interesting things, I felt a need to document it. I thought keeping a blog could be a good way to do this. This has the added benefit of being able to share it with friends in an easy way, though I would be surprised if anyone would actually bother looking at it....
Thank you for visiting and enjoy the fascinating life of some birds in my garden!
Originally I never intended to make a blog or anything like that. But when in November a few birds started to show interest in it as a place to roost and I started to observe some interesting things, I felt a need to document it. I thought keeping a blog could be a good way to do this. This has the added benefit of being able to share it with friends in an easy way, though I would be surprised if anyone would actually bother looking at it....
Thank you for visiting and enjoy the fascinating life of some birds in my garden!
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