Anyone with an exceptional memory (so that excludes me for a start) might recall that I have bird nesting boxes in the garden. The one that I've shown on the blog in the past was a 'three bay' box sitting on the north wall of my garage and visible from the house window that overlooks The Minch.
I'm sure that the view is the last thing in which the sparrows who occupy my boxes are interested. The old box succumbed to the ravages of the Hebridean weather and old age in a northerly gale at the end of last last year and is no more. The new boxes were too late for last year's nesting season but this year the alpha male sparrow has invited his potential mate to view the property.
"Look pretty much the same to me!"
"I think we'll have this one."
Did you make those, Graham? They look very smart.
ReplyDeleteJayCee, I have made them in the past but I bought these in a box of 10 and, even allowing for giving some to my neighbour, I couldn't have made them for the price.
DeleteIt's so true these days, unless you find suitable scrap wood. The cost of new is prohibitive.
DeleteBravo, Graham. I hope you become a surrogate father. The accommodations look quite upscale and I am sure that the new tenants will be very happy with their choice. Be sure to keep us posted of their progress.
ReplyDeleteWell, David, the old box was well used so I'm hoping the new ones will be this year.
DeleteLovely birdboxes! In my area we have to have metal around the holes, otherwise the dang squirrels make them bigger with their gigantic teeth. Ask me how I know! And sometimes folks put them on tree trunks but that doesn't work because of snakes. It's always something! LOL!
ReplyDeleteKay, we have no squirrels on the Island and, fortunately, no snakes either. It's good to hear from you.
DeleteGB - Love your bird flats! How lovely to see them being used!
DeletePS: I know squirrels have a bad reputation, and they do get into things, but honestly I am so glad to have squirrels as part of my back yard menagerie - they are so funny, and inquisitive, and lovely... I regularly see them right in front of my cottage door, sitting on their cheeky wee haunches, nibbling on the crunchy kibble that I put out for the outdoor cats. Love them!
Marcheline, I think everyone loves red squirrels which are native but they still wreak havoc with bird feeders. I would be happy to feed both but it's not an issue here.
DeleteWhat a good series of images. Let us hope they move in.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Adrian.
DeleteI reckon they have central, reverse-cycle heating, too! :)
ReplyDeleteLee, they are on the North wall so there is no chance of the eggs getting cooked in the sun.
DeleteOh, how gorgeous - I loved the first photo and your captions made me laugh :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margaret. I could almost hear the birds' conversation.
DeleteI put one on my wall here, and it fell off. I put it back again, and it fell off again. I've now taken it to the other house, so I wait to see if it'll be used; I know there are lots of Sparrows there.
ReplyDeleteCro, nails just are not what they used to be!
DeleteNor Hammers.
DeleteI wonder who will occupy the other two boxes. You will soon know, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the nice little morning chuckle with my coffee!
I'va actually got more boxed at the back of my house but because I can't keep a constant eye on them I usually only know if they have been used at the end of the season when I clean them out. I'm glad you had a chuckle.
DeleteThat is a precious photo story!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the new nesters and their photographer
Thank you, Maywyn.
DeleteEnjoyed this photo story, Graham, and the prospective tenants seem to appreciate their new digs. Looking forward to seeing more as they settle in.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice, the trouble is that as they settle in all I see is them going in and out. I'd love to have a wee camera in one of them
DeleteThey could do with little perches by the entrance holes to make access easier.
ReplyDeleteYP, I cut the wee perches off because an ornithologist advised me that it made it easier for some birds to raid the nests.
DeleteYou should never have perches. Covids can reach inside from them for the eggs.
DeleteI love the photos and the dialog you wrote to go with them! So fun! Good luck with your new homes!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellen.
DeleteGraham, Your photos remind me of a little book that Georgia used to love about a fussy mother bird and we knew all the words off my heart. "I love my house, I love my nest, in all the world my nest is best." Hope your visitors are saying the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too, Pauline, because my bird population is dwindling.
DeleteYour photos remind of a little book Georgia and I used to love about a fussy mother bird who sang, "I love my house, I love my nest, in all the world my nest is best." Hope you visitors are singing the same song.
ReplyDeleteI had a distinct déjà vu there Pauline. That's the sort of thing I do.
DeleteYour little photo collage was amusing and sweet. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie.
DeleteI wonder what clinched it. X
ReplyDeleteJules, I was surprised given that they are identical. However it occurred to me that they may have had to check in their own minds that they were identical. Then the alpha of the pair just told his partner what was what.
DeleteGreat photos!
ReplyDeleteAnyone would think Mr Alpha built them himself :)
Yes, Kylie, I found it quite puzzling.
DeleteGood to see that the birds are making good use of them, great job!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy.
DeleteHow cute - hope you get more opportunities to watch them, and get some 'tenants' for the other box as well :)
ReplyDelete