Rosellas nesting in house gutter

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lindeames
lindeames's picture
Rosellas nesting in house gutter

We live on the NSW Central Coast backing onto National Park and for a number of weeks now have become aware of a baby bird squawking at night in the gutter/roof above our bedroom. We've seen a rosella on the tree outside during the day and can only assume they've nested in the roof. We also hear tapping noises around dawn as if something is trying to break off wood under the eaves. We're too far off the ground to check what's happening and can only assume they've found a gap and decided it's the perfect spot to raise a family. From internet searching it doesn't appear to be the breeding season, neither can we find anything that confirms rosellas will take to breeding under the eaves/in house gutters. So my question to the forum is whether this is a known occurrence. We're also puzzled as to why the baby's relatively quiet during the day yet spends all night squawking. Thanks!

Owen1
Owen1's picture

Hi Lulubelle. I really don't know why the birds are making noise at night. some birds do like to nest in gutters because they act as good nesting hollows. Indian Mynas and Common Starlings will do this quite often.

Cheers, Owen.

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Hi Lulubelle, what makes you think, they are birds? Could be rats? I have to tell you, I like your forum name, one of my friend used to be called Lu Lu, sort for Lucien.

M-L

Owen1
Owen1's picture

I didn't think of that Araminta. It coud also be possums running around in the gutters or it could be any nocturnal animal.

Cheers, Owen.

lindeames
lindeames's picture

Thank you everyone for your feedback. It's definitely not rats nor possums - from the squawking it's a young bird wanting food. The scratching appears to be the parent birds gaining access. We're just surprised it's being fed at night and wonder how long this will go on for. Especially as it's right above our bedroom! It doesn't sound distressed, in fact it's probably in a great spot away from predators. We even can't access the roof as the house is located on a steep sloping block and the roof would be around 60 foot from the ground. Will update the forum in due course once we see the fledgling.

lindeames
lindeames's picture

Thank you everyone for your feedback. It's definitely not rats nor possums - from the squawking it's a young bird wanting food. The scratching appears to be the parent birds gaining access. We're just surprised it's being fed at night and wonder how long this will go on for. Especially as it's right above our bedroom! It doesn't sound distressed, in fact it's probably in a great spot away from predators. We even can't access the roof as the house is located on a steep sloping block and the roof would be around 60 foot from the ground. Will update the forum in due course once we see the fledgling.

Birdgirl2009
Birdgirl2009's picture

Hi Lulubelle
They nest in hollows but I have never heard of them nesting in a roof. We have a nesting box and some years they nest in Autumn as well as Spring. They usually have 3-7. Be sure to post a photo of the baby(ies) when it(they) looks out - we'd love to see it. It will be the one with the yellow beak

soakes
soakes's picture

I'm still not convinced it's parrots you're hearing, although it is certainly possible. It just sounds a bit weird.

Rats and possums can sound remarkably bird-like. Parrots do not feed at night. They sleep. They can't see at night. It is possible that baby birds would wake up hungry and make a noise at night, but you would expect to hear that noise periodically throughout the day too.

- soakes

soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia

Araminta
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Lulubelle, we have mice and rats, but no possums at our place.We also used to have bats, but no longer. The noises the rats make are varied, sometimes it sounds as it they are ripping, or stripping the wood of the beams, or they make knocking noises. And the young do make very excited bird like noises, when the adults come back to feed. I still wouldn't discount it being "rats"

M-L

Woko
Woko's picture

The thought's occurred to me that, since the young one(s)is/are calling at night, it/they might be a young owl(s). Have you noticed any owls calling nearby, Lulubelle? As far as breeding season is concerned I've noticed a number of bird species breeding outside normal hours lately, probably due to the availability of food due to the summer & early autumn rains.

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