Newbie to the bird world! Help, we have accidently disturbed a blue tit nest.

Hi there,

I was hoping that someone could offer me some words of wisdom.

We have got an old, no longer working water feature in our garden. (see example pic.) Yesterday my 9 year old nephew saw a blue tit fly into the pipe (where water would come out) so my partner, thinking that it had probably got stuck removed the top/ pump handle to reveal the bird and a nest of maybe 6-8 eggs about 4 inches down the pipe. (In hindsight this was a very stupid thing for him to do). Clearly the bird flew away and unfortunately some the eggs were damaged (this must of happened by the metal thread of the hand pump running through the top of the feature).

As soon as I found out I put a rock over to cover the top of the pipe (putting the pump handle on would only have resulted in more damage) and got everyone to leave the garden in the hope that it would return.

This morning and this evening I have seen a blue tit in the garden but have not seen it go into the pipe. I was just wondering if anyone could let me know the likelihood of this nest remaining viable or if there is anything I could or should do. 

Any advice or information would be gratefully received. Many thanks from a very guilt ridden me. xx

Hi Jools welcome to the forum.

It looks like the forum gremlin has got your photo..if you want to try again you can edit your post by clicking the green pencil.

Sorry to hear about the Blue Tit nest but i'm afraid i should think she will abandon the nest now it's been disturbed but you never know.

Thanks for your quick reply, hopefully they'll try again next year if we put a nesting box out for them.

Definitely put a nesting box, or two, for next year but there is a chance they will return. In case they do return, leave the feature alone until the autumn as a precaution.