It’s a fascinating spectacle every year: as soon as the first signs of spring begin to appear in nature, our nesting boxes come to life. Over the past few days, we’ve watched our female great tit work tirelessly on her nest.

Hard work with her beak

Building a nest is a truly monumental task for such a small bird. First, the foundation is laid: vast amounts of moss were hauled in to pad the box softly and insulate it. In the final phase, it became really fluffy. Animal hair and fine padding material were used to form the perfect nest cavity.

Although I’ve placed special dispensers with suitable, safe nesting material in various spots around the garden, the tit has a mind of its own. It apparently considers the (sometimes very long) animal hair to be much more suitable and prefers it to my offerings. While it looks cozy, it unfortunately carries the risk that the future chicks could get tangled up in it. We’re keeping a close eye on the nest, though, and hoping that nature will take care of everything here!

Latest Update: The First Night

The great tit has reached an important milestone: she is now spending the night in the nest box regularly. This is often the final sign that the nest is ready and that she feels safe enough to make the box her permanent home. Anyone watching the livestream can see her snuggling into the nest in the evening like a little featherball.

Waiting for the first egg

Although she has now “moved in,” the first egg is still a long time coming. This is completely normal—titmice often don’t start laying eggs until the weather and food supply are just right. So every morning, we eagerly check the screen: Will the first little miracle be in the nest today?

As soon as something happens with the clutch, you’ll find out right away here on the blog or directly on the live stream.

Stay tuned!