Blue Tits Nesting

This is some information about the family of Blue Tits who have made their family home in the wall of The Bothy. You may be thinking how can the Blue Tits nest in the wall, that because it is a part of the Greenhouse which used to grow the grapes for Costessey Hall. A boiler was kept stoked up and a system of pipes was used to keep the Greenhouse warm. Other more exotic fruit may have been grown but only the grape vine remains.

Which makes a lovely home for the Blue Tits who build nests in holes and crevices and they’re well known for nesting in unusual places such as letter boxes. Their nests are cup-shaped and are made by females from a variety of materials such as fur, wool, moss and leaves it generally takes about one and two weeks..

Most blue tits will lay about seven or more eggs ,which are incubated by the female just under a fortnight. The eggs are smooth and glossy white with purplish-red spots. Once hatched the little ones are fed by both parents and needs to be kept warm as they hatch naked and blind.

By the end of May the parents are hunting for juicy fat caterpillars as each chick can eat up to 100 caterpillars a day so a lot of work. By early June the Fledglings will be ready for their first flight. They stay with their parents for the first few weeks and hopefully learn how to find food and avoid predators.

We put out peanuts and fat balls so to help them make a good start. The lifespan of the bird is 2-3 years and they like to live near woodland. So this is why they like to nest here.I hope you have enjoyed finding out a little more about one of our native birds and you will come and  stay at The Bothy. Then you can do your own bird-watching and enjoy all the wild life which is on offer.