They say that bringing people closer to wildlife deepens understanding and inspires care for the natural world. For me, that idea came into sharp focus when we installed a camera nest box on the side of our house. It is illegal to interfere with birds’ nests when they are in use, so our equipment works via WiFi and is solar-powered. This means that a one time set up allows 24/7 live streaming throughout the nesting season. How exciting! Since February, this box has been home to the cutest little blue tit, and watching her has sparked both delight and a surprising amount of concern for her wellbeing. It has also sharpened our awareness of how easily human activity can threaten birds like her.

Colourful garden birds

Blue tits are consistently among the most widespread garden birds recorded in the Irish Garden Bird Survey. At just 11 grams, they are small but unmistakable, with vibrant blue, yellow, white, and green plumage. Their short black beak is perfectly suited to a diet of insects, seeds, and nuts. A blue tit’s most striking feature is their blue crown, and studies suggest it is more than decorative. It reflects ultraviolet light, which birds can see, and plays a role in communication and signals a bird’s social status. Blue tits live for an average of three years, although the oldest known blue tit in the wild reached ten. Survival is precarious, as most young birds do not make it through their first year. Those that do waste no time and usually breed the following spring.

Booking a room

Blue tits nest in cavities in trees or walls, and, as per our experience, readily use nest boxes. When we installed ours in February, it was discovered almost at once. A blue tit began roosting there each night, sheltering from wind and rain. At dusk, they would fluff their feathers and tuck their head beneath a wing until morning. On wilder, wetter days, they lingered longer, having a ‘lie in’ and emerging well after sunrise. I could not blame them. Nest placement matters, and there must be a clear flight path to the entrance. The site should also be difficult for predators such as cats or rats to access.

Pairing up

In early spring, blue tits begin to pair. Sure enough, by mid March, we saw two birds visiting the box together, pecking at it as if testing it. For a time, there was no sign of nest building, and we wondered if they would settle elsewhere, but they were likely focused on feeding and building up reserves. In early April, we captured a tender moment on camera. A bird inside the box called, and another arrived with a grub, passing it to them. A small but significant sign of a pair bond forming. Recent discussion around feeding garden birds has highlighted the risk of spreading disease. Following updated guidance from the RSPB, and watching for advice from BirdWatch Ireland, we have continued to feed cautiously in April.High energy foods such as suet can support birds during the breeding season, when females need extra energy to produce eggs. Both parents must remain in good condition ahead of the arduous task of feeding chicks.

Busy times

Once a nest site is chosen, the female begins building, largely without any help from the male. By late April, our bird had worked tirelessly for two weeks. She started with moss, making countless trips, and then added feathers and animal hair. One incredible discovery was that our blue tit was collecting mint from our garden and incorporating it into their nest. Studies show that blue tits add aromatic plants to their nests for antibacterial reasons, and nests with more of these plants result in more robust chicks. Nature never ceases to astonish. What stood out was the effort and precision involved in building the nest. The skill required to find and weave materials into a secure nest was remarkable. It also underscored the importance of the hedge cutting ban and the need for care when trimming vegetation during the breeding season. To see such labour undone in an instant would be devastating for any species of bird. In a moment of sympathy, we opened an old feather pillow. The response was immediate and we watched as feathers were quickly gathered and carried into the box.

What’s next

If all goes well, eggs will be laid in early May, at a rate of one per day. Blue tits are known for their large clutches, sometimes up to sixteen eggs, though eight to ten are more typical. The female will incubate them for around two weeks. The male may bring food, but she must still leave the nest to feed herself. Blue tits produce one brood each year, and the timing of this is critical. It must coincide with the peak availability of the caterpillars on which they rely to feed their chicks. Each chick needs to be fed up to one hundred caterpillars a day. Research suggests that climate change is beginning to disrupt this synchronisation, with birds breeding earlier but not always matching peak food availability. Chicks usually fledge in early June, leaving the nest in just under three weeks after hatching.

Baby proofing

My thoughts have already turned to how to make the garden safer. A rainwater barrel beneath the nest box will need to be moved, as a fledgling could easily fall in. My sons, aged eight and ten, have suggested adding strips of newspaper to the conservatory windows to reduce the risk of collisions. Watching the blue tit’s nesting unfold has been a powerful learning experience for them, and for me. It has reinforced a simple truth: the more closely we observe nature, the more we value it, and the more determined we become to protect it.

Blue tit in the camera nest box. (Photos: Nick Haigh)