シジュウカラの子育て2026(2) 巣作り1週間 Great Tit Parenting 2026 (2) Nest-Building Week 1

3月15日、16日に巣作りを開始したシジュウカラの巣の様子ですが、一週間で20センチ四方の巣箱の中は約5センチ高の木苔が敷き詰められ、産卵する場所には羽毛や動物の毛を円状に敷き詰めました。

毎日、シジュウカラノペアが何十回も運び込んだ結果です。

もう少し羽毛を敷き詰めたら、来週くらいには産卵が始まるでしょう。

この一週間の間に、ペアの間で餌のプレゼント、羽を震わして「お先にどうぞ」をする様子、そして、別のシジュウカラの巣箱侵入と格闘、ペアのシジュウカラと他の1羽との巣箱の外での格闘などの様子も観察できました。

巣箱は3メートル先のハナミズキの木にあり、私は机についている間、窓を通して、そして巣箱内部に臨時に設置したカメラで観察しています。

Here is an update on the nest of the great tits that began building on March 15 and 16. Over the course of a week, they have lined the 20-centimeter-square nest box with about 5 centimeters of moss and arranged feathers and animal hair in a circular pattern where they will have their eggs.

This is the result of the great tit pair making dozens of trips every day.

Egg-laying will likely begin around next week after a little more feathers arranged.

Over the past week, I also observed the male bird giving food to the female bird, shaking their wings to signal “you first,” when entering the nest box as well as scuffles with another great tit that invaded the nest box, and a fight between the pair and a single other great tit outside the nest box.

The nest box is located on a dogwood tree about 3 meters away from us. While I’m at my desk, I can observe them through the window and via a camera I’ve temporarily set up inside the nest box.