Blue tits nest in pub ashtray

Pub in Fermanagh does its bit for wildlife 
May 2012. Dessie McKenzie of the Linnet Inn, Boho, Co Fermanagh, proudly showed off his most unusual client - a family of blue tits which have taken up residence in the cigarette box just outside the pub. The birds have been nesting there now for the past two weeks and the adults have been frantically feeding the chicks whom, by all accounts sound like a raucous bunch.

Cigarette butts used as nesting material
"About three weeks ago, a customer threw a cigarette butt into the box and out flew a tit, which was unusual, to say the least," said Dessie. "He told me about it and I went to inspect the box. I was really surprised to see that that butts had been used by the blue tits as nest building material and even more surprised to see there were eggs. I quickly put up signs to stop people from using the boxes and called the RSPB to find out what I should do."

Stephanie Sim, RSPB, went down to take a look at the ‘nest' as well as to make sure the birds were doing well.

"At this time of the year we get calls from all over the country asking us what should be done about the birds which have nested in unusual places," said Stephanie. "This definitely takes the biscuit though. It shows you never know where nature will turn up."

Robin's nest too
Dessie was also surprised to see that his other cigarette box was also a nest site for a robin this time. However, this nest did not fledge and when Dessie noticed the birds had abandoned the site, he took a look in the nest and saw a hatched egg and an addled egg.

"Dessie has done the right thing leaving the nest sites alone, until the birds hatch and fledge," said Stephanie. "All bird nests are protected by law and destroying a nest site is a wildlife crime. If you do have birds nesting you need to allow them to bring up their brood and get away."

Stephanie also commented on the amount of wildlife that used the area around the pub. She saw swallows flying into the barn and house sparrows in the eaves. "This shows how we are so closely with wildlife," she commented.

Make Your Nature Count
From 2 - 10 June this year the RSPB will be holding its summer survey called Make Your Nature Count. It asks people to, over the course of a week, spend an hour in their gardens and report the findings to the RSPB.

"It doesn't have to be birds," said Stephanie. "Bugs, butterflies, creepy crawlies, mammals, foxes, bats - let us know."

To take part in the survey go to www.rspb.org.uk/naturecount to download a form or to register. You can also fill your results in online. 

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/ashtray-nest.html

Bird builds nest in lifebelt

Unusual nest site for Blue tit
May 2012. An RSPB member stumbled across a blue tit that chose to build its nest in a peculiar place – an emergency life jacket.

Luckily, Julia Keddie from Richmond in Surrey, wasn’t in need of the equipment at the time.  She said: “I was taking a walk around Kew Gardens with a friend when I noticed a flurry of activity near to the life jacket equipment and went to investigate.  After a while I noticed a blue tit going in and out of a small opening on the front and realised it must be nesting there and raising its family.  

“Fingers crossed nobody will fall into the lake during the rest of their nesting period; if they do there’ll be some very unhappy birds.”

Ian Hayward from the RSPB’s Wildlife Enquiries team, said: “It may look like an odd place to set up home, but there’s probably a nice nest-sized cavity in there. Birds make their nests in all sorts of weird and wonderful places. They see a safe, secure and cozy spot to lay eggs and raise chicks and don’t care what it looks like or what the neighbours might think.  

“We get sent lots of pictures from members who’ve spotted unusual nesting habits.  In the past we’ve had birds nesting in traffic lights, bins, hanging baskets and even an ash tray outside a pub, but that's the most unusual one I’ve seen this year.”

PHOTO CREDIT: JULIA KEDDIE 

Birds make home in snooker club ash tray

Two families of birds have made their home in a snooker club's ash tray.

Published: 8:00AM BST 15 May 2010

The blue tits have nested in the boxes at the front and back door of the building where smokers dump their butts.

The owners of the Halstead Snooker Centre in Halstead, Essex, noticed the tiny chicks after they hatched last Thursday.

Tara Mizon, who owns the club with husband Andy, said: "They are backwards and forwards with their babies, both of them.

"Of all the places to nest, they chose here. They are so gorgeous.

"The thought of anyone putting anything in the fag boxes is terrifying. It would only take one person to forget."

Staff have put up notices to warn smokers not to put their cigarettes out inside.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/7724290/Birds-make-home-in-snooker-club-ash-tray.html