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Post by Taz on May 15, 2022 19:57:08 GMT
Glad to hear this Pete
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Post by pete11 on May 15, 2022 22:15:27 GMT
Mum' not on the nest tonight for the first time in weeks.... I'm assuming it's because the chicks are so big now.
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Post by pete11 on May 16, 2022 22:32:27 GMT
Mum back on the nest tonight. The 3 chicks are really starting to look like proper little birds now, with lots of feathers. A few times now one's been hopping up out of the nest cup and over the edge. They're also starting to 'cheep-cheep' to each other a bit, especially when settling down after a feed. Very cute. At one point early today, mum decided to cover them in moss! I think she must've figured they were getting chilly - or maybe she got freaked out by the sudden noise of power tools coming from a neighbouring garden? Very odd: And here's a general longish clip including some standing-on-edge-of-nest-cup, cheep-cheeping (faintly), and feeding:
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Post by suep on May 17, 2022 20:21:21 GMT
Never seen the moss thing at this stage Pete - don’t know what she’s thinking Sue
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Post by pete11 on May 17, 2022 21:46:08 GMT
Never seen the moss thing at this stage Pete - don’t know what she’s thinking Sue So weird - she's done it again today! Do they sometimes have two broods? Is she thinking about laying another clutch as soon as these three are out of here?
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Post by pete11 on May 17, 2022 22:33:17 GMT
Several brave trips beyond the nest cup perimeter today, for the largest two of the three. Number 3 still seems quite happy and snug in the nest cup for the time being. The cheep-cheep inter-chick communication is increasing, as is the associated cuteness Here's a clip from today which shows where things are at:
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Post by Taz on May 18, 2022 8:39:38 GMT
Strange isn't it? Our female has been bringing in nest material too for the past week 🤷🤷
Great videos, they're coming along nicely
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Post by pete11 on May 19, 2022 22:00:51 GMT
Strange isn't it? Our female has been bringing in nest material too for the past week 🤷🤷 Great videos, they're coming along nicely Ooo that's interesting! Not just me then. I wonder what it's all about? She did the same thing yesterday, too. Here's a pic from earlier today - proper fluffy birdies now.... Day 18 today so I'm guessing fledging's about 3 or 4 days away max.
And a vid:
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Post by Taz on May 19, 2022 23:28:25 GMT
Yours the same age as mine. I think mine may fledge tomorrow, depends on how wet it is though.
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Post by pete11 on May 20, 2022 22:24:07 GMT
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benn
Senior Member
Posts: 143
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Post by benn on May 21, 2022 11:55:10 GMT
Always puzzles me Pete why Blue tits seem to fledge so young with flight and tail feathers still under developed, many times I see them exposed on the ground to various predators.
My experience with past Great Tit broods seem to be suggest they wait a couple of days longer and look to have stronger flight ability when they leave. Then the Starlings camera boxes in the past show them are almost fully grown when they leave and they fly very well.
Great pics and video by the way!
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Post by pete11 on May 21, 2022 21:58:20 GMT
Always puzzles me Pete why Blue tits seem to fledge so young with flight and tail feathers still under developed, many times I see them exposed on the ground to various predators. My experience with past Great Tit broods seem to be suggest they wait a couple of days longer and look to have stronger flight ability when they leave. Then the Starlings camera boxes in the past show them are almost fully grown when they leave and they fly very well. Great pics and video by the way! My three are still tucked up in the nest cup tonight. So I guess it could be tomorrow or Monday when they finally exit the hole. Lots of forays around the box this afternoon, and general restlessness.
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Post by suep on May 22, 2022 8:18:25 GMT
They are looking so good Pete. Your pics and videos are of such good quality, I shall be sad when there are no more updates. . Sue
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Post by Taz on May 22, 2022 9:55:12 GMT
Always puzzles me Pete why Blue tits seem to fledge so young with flight and tail feathers still under developed, many times I see them exposed on the ground to various predators. My experience with past Great Tit broods seem to be suggest they wait a couple of days longer and look to have stronger flight ability when they leave. Then the Starlings camera boxes in the past show them are almost fully grown when they leave and they fly very well. Great pics and video by the way! My three are still tucked up in the nest cup tonight. So I guess it could be tomorrow or Monday when they finally exit the hole. Lots of forays around the box this afternoon, and general restlessness. Any fledging yet?
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Post by pete11 on May 22, 2022 19:32:32 GMT
I’ve been at work all day, but weirdly the first time I thought of the chicks and wondered how they were doing was 3.30pm this afternoon… So I looked at the Green Feathers app, and lo and behold the largest two had literally fledged 10mins before…basically at the very moment I’d suddenly thought of them! The smaller third one remained in the nest and was clearly being fed by parents - but it too fledged around 6.30pm this evening.
So that’s it - the nest is empty!
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Post by matt on May 22, 2022 20:57:04 GMT
Congrats on your first season Pete!
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Post by pete11 on May 22, 2022 21:11:33 GMT
Congrats on your first season Pete! Thanks Matt - here’s to many more!
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Post by suep on May 22, 2022 21:20:50 GMT
Congrats on a successful fledge Pete, just sad we won’t see any more fantastic pics - we’ll roll on next year I say. Good luck to the little ones, hope they stay safe. Sue
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Post by Taz on May 22, 2022 21:33:58 GMT
Fantastic, congratulations on your fledging and many more to come.
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Post by pete11 on May 23, 2022 8:10:33 GMT
The question now arises: should I clean out the box straightaway?
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Post by suep on May 23, 2022 8:28:20 GMT
I believe the RSPB recommend leaving the box until September in case of a second brood, but this is very unlikely with blue tits. I think most people check their boxes for dead chicks or unhatched eggs (but in your case with a camera you can see this). I have always left mine until later in the year but I am sure a lot of people clear them out earlier. I would wait and see what the majority say. Your box Pete, has to be what you feel right. Sue
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Post by Taz on May 23, 2022 9:16:57 GMT
I usually wait until later in the year, September/October time.
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Post by pete11 on May 24, 2022 15:59:46 GMT
I didn't have time to sort out the footage of my three's fledging moments two days ago - but I've now managed to stitch the relevant clips together to make one final rather long video. Mostly the two larger ones fledging, with the bit at the end showing the third one left all alone and finally taking the plunge.
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Post by suep on May 24, 2022 16:09:56 GMT
That was awesome Pete, thank you for sharing. Sue
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Post by sammi on May 24, 2022 20:42:16 GMT
Such a lovely angle to see them go in the great outdoors. Goodness we miss them when they go
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