Wildlife

Great Tit Welfare in Garden Habitats

Welfare overview for great tits -- adaptable, intelligent woodland birds that thrive in gardens with support.

Key Facts

Great tits are the largest UK tit species and are highly adaptable to a range of habitats including gardens
They are highly intelligent -- great tits have been documented using tools in some European populations
Garden nest boxes are used extensively by great tits -- their welfare depends partly on nest site availability
Great tits are highly susceptible to Suttonella ornithocola -- a bacterial pathogen causing significant mortality
They are significant regulators of caterpillar populations -- providing important ecosystem services
Cold winters cause mortality through inability to find enough food -- supplementary feeding is welfare-positive
Great tit populations show high breeding density in areas with good nest box provision
Cats are a significant predator of fledgling great tits in garden habitats

Welfare Significance

Great tit welfare in gardens is closely linked to human management of garden habitat. Nest box provision, supplementary feeding in winter, disease monitoring at feeders, and cat management all directly affect the welfare of individual birds. Gardens that actively support great tits can sustain high breeding densities with good individual welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Install nest boxes with a 28mm entrance hole for great tits in your garden
Provide supplementary food in winter -- fat balls and sunflower hearts are ideal
Clean feeders and bird baths weekly to prevent disease transmission
Keep cats indoors or supervised during the fledgling season in May and June