September
6th – It is raining and the wind is howling and it appears that Autumn is arriving. Yet again the nestbox has failed to attract a nesting bird despite a promising start. Look in again next year, I won't be giving up
March
14th – Tonight is the first night since the last entry, that a great tit has not roosted in the box! What has happened to it? Found somewhere better or victim of a cat?
February
23rd – A great tit still resident every night
20th – Great tit continuing to roost every night
17th – Tonight, and for the previous 2 nights a great tit has roosted in the box. When a bird is in residence the streaming video server will be operating so that you can see live pictures from the inside of the box. During the day the camera will record still images that will be displayed on the right. The server can only accomodate a few users at a time so please be patient if nothing appears straight away.
14th – Valentine’s Day when birds are supposed to choose a mate. 3 separate, shorter visits today all by great tit(s), 10.46, 13.32 and 17.10
13th – Multiple visits again today 11.27.03 to 11.29.46; 12.23.09 to 12.25.34; 12.30.20 to 12.31.41 and 16.49.12 to 16.52.30. I watched the last visit live having been emailed to my phone that a picture had been taken. As I was just outside the back door, I came inside and turned on the monitor. It was fascinating to watch the bird, a great tit again, popping in and out of the hole as if trying it for size and ease of entry. Let's hope this is a good omen.
12th – Several visits today, can't tell if it's the same bird but all great tits. In at 09.16.23 and out at 09.16.41; in at 11.48.50 and out at 11.48.55; in at 12.03.45 and out at 12.08.24 (longest visit so far) and finally in at 17.17.36 and out at 17.18.31
11th – Another great tit visit; very short , only two photos taken
10th – Another great tit in at 09.24.55
8th – A blue tit and a great tit in today. Blue tit left at 09.44.39 and great tit came in at 09.44.47
7th – Camera set off by a fly several times today
1st – Another visit from a great tit
This project started in Spring of 2009 but, despite prospecting by several tits (see History Page), nothing has yet taken residence last. It's 3rd time lucky with the box in yet another location.
Thanks to Jane & Mick and Will & Fran for the Christmas 2008 present, to PC Advisor forum for pointing me in the direction of TinCam (the software that captures the images) and to Garden Nature who supply all the rest of the kit.
At present the software is set to capture an image when it detects motion and the latest image is displayed on the above.
Anyone planning a similar project and needing advice is welcome to email as is anyone who can offer me advice!!