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Post by sammi on Apr 30, 2019 19:55:58 GMT
Oh Taz....so sorry to hear this. Poor birds, so much hard work gone in an instant? Definitely the real down side of watching nest boxes. I wonder if the pair will try again?
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Post by Taz on Apr 30, 2019 20:08:40 GMT
Probably way too late now, that's assuming that Fluff survived. I've been at work so don't know. Sadly a couple of days ago we changed to video rate to 1 shot every 30 seconds, so not really captured a lot.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 30, 2019 20:22:21 GMT
Probably will be a cat with its paw if the box is easy for them to access, Where about is your box placed Taz? Is it easy for a cat to sit on and put its paw into the hole? Think you should look into giving it more protection next year if so, Sad outcome for the bird. With it being a great tit she might start again, They have 2 broods unlike blue tits so she might rush a late nest and start laying again. Extremely shitty for you though of course, I am glad fluff escaped though sliver lining and all.
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Post by Taz on Apr 30, 2019 20:37:25 GMT
Probably will be a cat with its paw if the box is easy for them to access, Where about is your box placed Taz? Is it easy for a cat to sit on and put its paw into the hole? Think you should look into giving it more protection next year if so, Sad outcome for the bird. With it being a great tit she might start again, They have 2 broods unlike blue tits so she might rush a late nest and start laying again. Extremely shitty for you though of course, I am glad fluff escaped though sliver lining and all. Hi Paul, It as a little low, we lost a few trees so was the best place at the time. I didn't think it was accessible for a cat, certainly not able to sit on it. Having said that, it's certainly the most likely thing to happen. I haven't actually looked in the nest, not sure whether to or not? I'm not even sure Fluff survived, I'm hoping she did.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 30, 2019 20:41:35 GMT
If fluff isn't in the box Taz I would look, See if eggs have been smashed etc. I mean nothing to lose now really, might give you a better idea what happened.
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Post by Beechnut on May 1, 2019 8:57:32 GMT
So disappointed for you Taz, us GT-ers are few and far between on here without losing nests to a tragedy like this.
I had a cat get onto the top of one of my boxes when I had it in a Rowan tree, 12-15ft up, but it managed to pull out half the nest material.
I resorted to putting a piece of concrete on top and wired it on to stop the cat from accessing the box.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 9:39:37 GMT
Very annoying Taz. I do not dislike cats but I will never accept why it isokay for them to roam anywhere they want. For me they should be kept indoors.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 1, 2019 10:08:31 GMT
Oh I am so sorry to read your sad news Taz. I'd better be careful what I say as a few members on here have cats as pets - but I hate our next door neighbours cats & just wish an eagle would catch them for dinner - as they kill a lot of my froggie-doggies (frogs) in the garden. I have lots of graves in the garden.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 1, 2019 10:18:08 GMT
Very annoying Taz. I do not dislike cats but I will never accept why it isokay for them to roam anywhere they want. For me they should be kept indoors. I second that! I never have dogs roaming about in the garden, so no pooh, but plenty of cat pooh all over!
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Post by elle on May 1, 2019 21:52:07 GMT
Oh Taz I’m genuinely devastated to hear the news of your nest I must say, I’ve had my fair share of cat problems in the past, not to your extent, but generally being a nuisance around the boxes! Cats can be a pain in the ar*e!!! leave it a few days, if Fluff did make it, maybe she may come back Elle xx
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Post by suep on May 2, 2019 8:20:39 GMT
Oh Taz, this is so very sad. All that hard work. I hope Fluff has survived, but unless she returns I guess you will never know. Such an awful thing to happen. Unfortunately these little birds are prone to all sorts of predation no matter how we try in our little way to protect them. Sue
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Post by Taz on May 2, 2019 18:34:40 GMT
If fluff isn't in the box Taz I would look, See if eggs have been smashed etc. I mean nothing to lose now really, might give you a better idea what happened. Thanks Paul,
We looked in the box, the eggs were all intact, just the nest upended and the camera got disturbed. The camera sits in a shelf which obviously got tipped up. No sign of feathers, so I think Fluff got away.
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Post by Taz on May 2, 2019 18:35:56 GMT
So disappointed for you Taz, us GT-ers are few and far between on here without losing nests to a tragedy like this. I had a cat get onto the top of one of my boxes when I had it in a Rowan tree, 12-15ft up, but it managed to pull out half the nest material. I resorted to putting a piece of concrete on top and wired it on to stop the cat from accessing the box. Thanks Beechnut, very disappointing, especially as the box has been untouched for a few years. Such is nature though.
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Post by Taz on May 2, 2019 18:37:18 GMT
Very annoying Taz. I do not dislike cats but I will never accept why it isokay for them to roam anywhere they want. For me they should be kept indoors. Yes Benn, this is my problem with cats too, the fact they can just go where they like. Dogs would never be allowed to do that.
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Post by Taz on May 2, 2019 18:39:58 GMT
Oh I am so sorry to read your sad news Taz. I'd better be careful what I say as a few members on here have cats as pets - but I hate our next door neighbours cats & just wish an eagle would catch them for dinner - as they kill a lot of my froggie-doggies (frogs) in the garden. I have lots of graves in the garden. Thanks YorksherLass, Yes, how I wish something bigger would fly in and catch the offending moggie. They are so destructive, they don't earn their place as far as I'm concerned. However, I do appreciate they bring a lot of joy to many people, and I'm more than happy they do that.
P.S I would never harm a cat
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Post by Taz on May 2, 2019 18:41:40 GMT
Oh Taz I’m genuinely devastated to hear the news of your nest I must say, I’ve had my fair share of cat problems in the past, not to your extent, but generally being a nuisance around the boxes! Cats can be a pain in the ar*e!!! leave it a few days, if Fluff did make it, maybe she may come back Elle xx Thanks Elle, So frustrating, and so close to hatching too. Fingers crossed she does come back, however, I'm not sure I could take any more disasters.
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Post by Taz on May 2, 2019 18:42:37 GMT
Oh Taz, this is so very sad. All that hard work. I hope Fluff has survived, but unless she returns I guess you will never know. Such an awful thing to happen. Unfortunately these little birds are prone to all sorts of predation no matter how we try in our little way to protect them. Sue Thanks Suep, It is frustrating, I think Fluff survived, no signs of feathers in the box.
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Post by Taz on May 2, 2019 18:47:58 GMT
Here is the upturned nest. This is with the front of the box taken off.
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Post by suep on May 2, 2019 19:27:04 GMT
What a very sad sight
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Post by YorksherLass on May 3, 2019 9:04:41 GMT
It is a mess isn't it? I don't know enough about birds, but if Fluff did come back, does anyone know whether she would be able to push the eggs back into the nest - or is it too late for them anyway now because of the very cold nights?
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Post by Taz on May 3, 2019 9:12:11 GMT
It is a mess isn't it? I don't know enough about birds, but if Fluff did come back, does anyone know whether she would be able to push the eggs back into the nest - or is it too late for them anyway now because of the very cold nights? The eggs were very cold, she has not been back at all. I can't see her coming back now, I will have to do something to either relocate box or put something around it so that cats/predators cannot touch it.
I would be interested in thoughts about the eggs being viable too.
I think that because the eggs had been incubated for so long, the chicks would be quite well developed. The eggs then getting cold would surely kill off the partially developed chicks?
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Post by YorksherLass on May 3, 2019 9:20:28 GMT
Oh dear, it does seem there is no hope after all - I am so sorry Taz.
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Post by Taz on May 3, 2019 9:30:18 GMT
Oh dear, it does seem there is no hope after all - I am so sorry Taz. Thanks YorksherLass,
I'm going to enjoy watching everyone elses nests though. Try again next year for me.
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 3, 2019 9:49:36 GMT
Horrible sight to see Taz, I am glad Fluff seemed to have got away!
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Post by blueeyedchick on May 4, 2019 9:19:10 GMT
Awful Taz but are you sure it's a cat? don't know how box is situated or whether you get the following but consider, rat, stoat, weasel, magpie, woodpecker, squirrel, a creature that can pivot on the box and gets it's beak or claw in? Just a thought.
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