Blue tits are one of the most common and recognisable visitors across UK gardens and here’s how they will be enticed to visit your cherished outdoor space this auutmn.
Blue tits, with their vibrant mix of blue, yellow, white and green plumage, are a common sight in UK gardens. Their cheeky character and delightful chirp make them a firm favourite amongst gardening enthusiasts.
There’s an estimated population of 2.5million blue tits across Britain and Ireland, making them one of the most prevalent garden bird species. These birds, almost exotic in appearance compared to the common house sparrow or blackbirds, can be easily attracted to your garden with a few simple tricks.
Known for raising large broods, blue tits lay between seven to 13 eggs, sometimes even as many as 19. Both males and females look very similar, although males can sometimes have brighter hues on their feathers, particularly on their heads.
Their breeding season kicks off from mid-April, and they often choose garden nest boxes as their nesting sites. But how do you entice these charming birds to visit your garden regularly?
Love Garden Birds explains blue tits are particularly fond of suet balls and suet pellets when it comes to feed.
Suet balls are the perfect food source during the colder winter months, providing the necessary calories and energy to keep them going. Not only are suet balls a hit with blue tits, but robins and long-tailed tits are also fans.
So if you’re searching for straightforward methods to lure blue tits to your feeders, suet balls are an excellent choice.
It’s absolutely vital to make certain you position your feeders well away from fences and trees though, because these act as ideal perches for felines and domestic cats, who are amongst the primary causes of blue tit deaths.
This familiar UK bird species is so keen on lunchtime gymnastics that they occasionally feed upside down, so it’s advisable to offer them feeders they can readily cling to.
A mesh peanut feeder is ideal for blue tits, as they can bounce around on it and scamper up and down.
Peanuts are another brilliant source of protein for blue tits and are probably their second most-loved food after suet balls.
Nevertheless, they shouldn’t be put out during nesting season, as adult birds frequently feed them to their chicks without understanding that the nuts can be too big and challenging for the youngsters to digest.
Specialists at Wildlife and Birdcare have also revealed their leading tips for enticing Blue Tits to gardens – and it’s by establishing the ideal nesting location for them, reports the Express.
The specialists recommend: “If you want to attract Blue Tits to your garden, make or buy a nest box with a hole around 32mm wide. Then position it 2.5 metres up a tree or you can fix it to a tall fence or wall. Just make sure it’s out of the reach of any predators including cats.
“The space in front of the entrance needs to be clear and placed in a shady area, facing north-east. Always avoid strong sunlight. A slanted nest box is the best design for Blue Tits.”
Blue tits are typically non-migratory birds that remain near to where they were born, though some do venture further afield.
This means the birds popping into your garden during winter might actually have come from elsewhere in northern Europe.
The specialists add: “Winter poses significant challenges for many wildlife species, and Blue Tits are no exception. They depend on supplemental feeding during the colder months, and offering a snug nest box can provide valuable overnight shelter. Sadly, nearly two-thirds of juvenile Blue Tits don’t survive their first year. However, those that do often begin breeding the following spring.”
During autumn, blue tits feast on elder and hawthorn berries (haws).
If there’s space in your garden for these berry-producing trees, you can anticipate flocks of blue tits visiting between September and December.
By putting out food regularly and growing a garden brimming with wildlife-friendly flowers, you’ll quickly attract plenty of colourful cyan visitors.
