Unusual lodgers found in your garden nest boxes
AT the time of year when the RSPB is urging people to put up nest boxes ready for next spring, a surprising number of unusual shared occupancies have come to light.
The charity’s wildlife enquiries team has been encouraging callers to clean out existing nest boxes and to put new ones in position so they are in place for when birds start to ‘recce’ possible nest sites in the spring.
Some birds will start to roost in them in the next few weeks as the weather turns colder too.
And the number of extraordinary reports of some species doubling up in nest-boxes in recent years has come as quite a surprise.
Barn owl nest boxes seem to attract the most unusual tenants, with reports of the generous bird of prey sharing their nest boxes with birds like jackdaws, kestrels and stock doves.
Many birds are furiously territorial, especially when raising their young. And callers have reported that some birds sharing a home are constantly harassed when trying to get into their house-share, making it even more bizarre that they should persist.
Other birds that have been spotted nestsharing are blue tits and great tits and both of these species have been seen sharing with pied flycatchers too.
Experts believe one reason for the shared occupancies could include multiple cavities in some nest boxes, leading to the birds fledging from one cavity and returning to roost in the ‘wrong hole’ that is already occupied.
Another reason could be because they have unwittingly laid their eggs in the active nest of another species.
There may also be a lack of nesting sites in some areas.
Many larger birds that nest in holes in trees or in older, undisturbed buildings are having difficulty finding suitable nesting sites, as buildings are knocked down or converted.
Richard James, RSPB wildlife adviser says: “Now is a great time to put up new nest boxes or give old ones a clean ready for the next round of breeding in spring.
“Long before eggs are actually laid and chicks hatched, the adult birds will start to scope out possible nest sites.
“Its great to hear that people are getting so excited about unusual lodgers and although its quite unusual, it just goes to show you never know quite what you might find in your nest box.
“You could be providing a home for all sorts of strange house guests!”
If you discover that you have two species sharing a box, you should put up another box elsewhere in the garden for next year.
Both species might want to breed in the area again the following year, so adding another box will ensure they have their own space.
Different species have different nesting requirements, but the general rule of thumb is to position a nest box so it isn’t easy for predators to get in, and try and face it away from strong sunlight and prevailing winds.