When you’re looking for love
February is a busy time for our garden bird with Valentine’s Day and National Nest Box Week kicking off on the 14th of the month. The breeding season begins for our feathered friends with a flurry of courtship and nest building in full flow.
From now until March, early breeders such as great tits, bluet tits and pigeons begin their courtship and nest building with the season hitting its peak between April and June.
Nesting
Nesting can take place in different areas around the garden, especially in hedges. However, as they are not quite in leaf, they can look like they are empty. Nest boxes make a perfect shelter for a breeding pair and now is a really good time to put one up. You can find out more about the need for nest boxes here National Nest Box Week
You can also buy a great quality nest box here Shop Nest Boxes
Courtship
Garden birds put on quite a show in the breeding season – a mixture of sound, dance, gifts and nest building. Here are the main ways they attract a mate:
Song – Males sing loudly to mark their territory and highlight their strength and suitability. Each species has its own song. Robins, blackbirds and wrens are particularly vocal in early spring.
Dancing – Birds fluff up their feathers, puff out their chests, hop and bow. Great tits maintain a stiff, upright post, while wrens bounce about with their wings flicking. Bright colours really have the wow factor and are put firmly on show – think robins with their bright red breasts.
Feeding – Many males offer food to females. Robins, blackbirds and sparrows are very good at doling out the snacks.
A prime nesting spot
Claiming a prime nesting spot is number one. Many males will show of a nest site, or even start building one. Wrens, in particular, will build multiple nests so that a female can choose.
You will see that nesting is underway when birds are carrying moss, dry grass, feathers and mud repeatedly to the same spot.
Bonding
Ones paired up, birds will follow one another, call softly and preen. You might even see the male feeding the female, just before egg laying takes place. Singing still occurs, but less frequently once the birds have paired and once the nest is built, eggs will follow days later.
Nesting behaviour
Many birds lay one egg a day, often in the early morning and become more cautious and quiet around the nest. You might notice that they approach indirectly, rather than flying straight in.
How you can help them
Nesting activity takes a huge amount of energy, so keep feeding the birds with high-protein food such as suet and mealworms. Fat balls are a great choice. Shop Fat Balls