The Dutch Mammal Society reports something unusual about a nestbox in Crailo forest this year.
That nestbox is built for coal tits.
However, this spring marsh tits built their nest and laid eggs in the box. The first time that this species was recorded in nestboxes in that area.
In the same box, a common noctule bat rests regularly.
The animals do not seem to mind each other.
Just amazing! Warmth exchange?
Maybe!
There is an interesting difference between this, and the great tits-pipistrelle bats relationship. Some (a smal minority) of great tits eat wintering pipistrelle bats. In this case, tits are smaller, bats are bigger than that.
Yes, I remember reading the article about it. Observed in Hungary as far as I remember.
You remember well, mothergrogan. Here is the BBC report:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8245165.stm
What a wonderful surprise! I love this photo.
Thanks for your comment, catbird.
Originally, both bats and tits used to nest in holes in trees. These are rarer now in human-influenced forests. Fortunately, nestboxes can be substitutes.
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