18. TITS!!!!

I thought that would get your attention!
The tits in question are blue, not from the cold, but the feathered kind.
A few weeks ago a romantic pair decided they would nest in our kitchen extractor vent; and by lifting one of the flaps on the vent they began flying in nesting material at a rate that would put DHL to shame.
Obviously this would cause us problems, and before they got too attached to their new residence, I opted for clearing it out, giving them time to find a replacement site. I was amazed by how many fistfuls of fluff, twigs and moss etc. they had managed to collect in such a short space of time. Having done the dirty eviction deed and convinced myself that it was better for them in the long run, ( would new born chicks survive the fumes when we were cooking curry?), I consoled myself with the fact that there were plenty of other nesting sites available around here!

However, the birds thought otherwise, and with admirable determination, started all over again.
No amount of banging on the ducting inside deterrred them for more than a few minutes and it was time for the ladders again. The first eviction was relatively simple but, this time, it turned into a marathon!

What you need to realise is that our our house was completed 15 years ago but was never lived in until we arrived. Unfortunately for me, the blue tits had had free rein for all those years, and instead of refurbishing old nests, had built new every year. When my arm wouldn't go any further in from the outside, I had to go into the kitchen and detach the ducting, wave it about to dislodge the accumulated material,and thrust it on to the extractor running at top speed to blow it outside. We ended up with TWO shopping bags full of nests!!!!

The outside vent was taped up enough to allow the extractor to work but prevent further squatting and, after a few vain attempts to gain entry, the birds gave up, and hopefully found a new nesting site.

Not really a Greek story, I know, but a warning to anyone that has strange noises eminating from their extractor when it is switched off!!!