On 31/5/08 15:57, in article ,
"scullsterhome" wrote:

Hi all

Just looking to get trees pruned and a fence put up so decided to take the
bird box down first.
The hole has been over enlarged so we haven't had any visitors there for a
while.
Climbed the ladder and peared in to see a tit of some variety staring
back!!!
Somehow they've snook in without me noticing and started nesting - I do keep
a reasonable eye on the bird life, so I'm suprised they've managed to build
a nest without me noticing.

Now to the questions:

1 Will it scare off the bird if the tree, a silver birch, is seriously
pruned (probably need chain saws!)

Yes of course it will. Think of it as your home and how you'd feel if
someone came at it with a chainsaw. In any case, it's kinder to the tree to
wait until the autumn/winter to do that job.

2 How long will it take for the eggs to hatch and the babies to flee the
nest if I decide to wait?

Not at all sure but two to three weeks at a guess. I'd look on the RSPB
site if I were you.

3 Is it likely I will have scared it off anyway having put a ladder up
directly below the box and peered in?

As long as you left the area and took the ladder away fairly swiftly, it
should be fine.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'