If you thought it odd that last year the 2007 season started in December 2006, what will you think about the 2008 year's diary starting in November 2007?
Over the last few days, I have been sorting out our bird boxes which this year has been more complicated than usual. Instead of leaving the boxes in their normal position, this year I took them down but left them outside in the open. As a result, they were exposed to much more rain than usual and the roofs of both boxes became waterlogged. This was because in my effort to make the boxes cat proof, I had screwed some rows of spikes along the top of them. The screws holding the spikes in place penetrated the roofing felt and created several leaks.
Fortunately, Denise Staniforth at Boxwatch came to my rescue and supplied me with two new roofs which I could use to replace the damaged ones. If I feel the need to put spikes on them this year I will have to find a method that does not penetrate the roofing felt!
Here is Box1 re-installed complete with its new roof. It's been cleaned out and the lighting checked and it's now ready for some prospective users.
Although it has been nice to have great tits occupying this box for the last few years, I feel that bluetits are far more interesting birds than great tits so I have put a bluetit sized metal baffle over the great tit sized hole. We shall see what happens!
And finally, this is Box2 which also has a new roof section. Although my neglect had not caused such severe problems as with Box1, I thought it a good idea to change this roof section as well while I was about it. I have also changed the position of the external camera a bit so that I could get a slightly better view of the box.
Let's hope our bluetits are more successful here this year!