Bill Howie and Andrew Dickson have this week in early March 2008 been out to the wood and cleaned out all the bird boxes, the census appears here. The bird ringer, David Oliver( photograph below) from Freuchie who was here two years ago will be returning in June to ring the chicks (a bit earlier than the last time) and again a count will be taken. David Oliver has also agreed to come back in January 2009 and with the kind permission of Dr David Wood (the Biodiversity man of DCT) his garden at The Glebe House (the Old Manse) will be used to catch and monitor the birds in the Dunning Community. We look forward to having all the results.

A total of 21 boxes were found with nests in use, and increase of 3 on the last survey.

Those with nests are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 23, 29, 30, 31, 33, 36, 37

A map is here

2006 Census table has been moved to the bottom of this page

The following photos are courtesy of Felcity Martin

Table 2 - Bird census - Interim results for 2006 breeding season at 11th June

Box	Species	Eggs laid	Fledged Y/N/?	No of young	Ringed Y/N
5	Blue tit	8	Y	?	N
30	Blue tit	?	Y	?	N
29	Blue tit	7	not at 11/06	7	N
3	Blue tit	9	Y	?	N
19	Blue tit	10	Y	10	N
8	Blue tit	11	Y	11	N
14	Blue tit	9	not at 11/06	7	N
7	Blue tit	9	Y	8	8/9 one runt
9	Great tit	?	Y	?	N
18	Blue tit	?	Y	?	N
2	Blue tit	?	Y	?	N
33	Blue tit	0	N	0	N/A
34	Blue tit	6	Y	5	5/5
31	Blue tit	?	Y	?	N
38	Blue tit	6	not at 11/06	?	N

15 attempted or successful breeding pairs out of 39 boxes put up. Estimated around 100 chicks successfully reared (90% blue tits) No evidence of predation by woodpeckers, jays or grey squirrels. One of two owl boxes occupied by grey squirrels. No open fronted boxes occupied