Post by Beechnut on Apr 29, 2020 8:36:09 GMT
Thanks for your comments guys, and Kathy I think it's certain that they are 1st time parents - I have never witnessed anything like this in the umpteen years I've had boxes. According to the RSPB 1st time nesting (G)tits do often only have a couple of eggs as a first brood, so I suppose by the law of averages I'd draw the short straw eventually.
One thing that is concerning me a little, I realise that only one chick doesn't need the same number of feeding visits to the nestbox as a cup full of nestlings, but despite Meg leaving the box quite frequently, I have yet to see her come back with any food for Little Tim, Mac is doing all the food collection, even if it's nearly always too large for Tim to swallow and needs softening up or breaking down!
I wonder if Meg thinks that the egg is still viable and is continuing to incubate it, and Tim is benefitting from the warmth at the same time?
As long as Tim continues to fill a greater volume of the cup each day, I'll put that theory to the back of my mind.(While I've typed the last 3 paragraphs, she has been out 3 times and returned with nothing each time!).
One thing that is concerning me a little, I realise that only one chick doesn't need the same number of feeding visits to the nestbox as a cup full of nestlings, but despite Meg leaving the box quite frequently, I have yet to see her come back with any food for Little Tim, Mac is doing all the food collection, even if it's nearly always too large for Tim to swallow and needs softening up or breaking down!
I wonder if Meg thinks that the egg is still viable and is continuing to incubate it, and Tim is benefitting from the warmth at the same time?
As long as Tim continues to fill a greater volume of the cup each day, I'll put that theory to the back of my mind.(While I've typed the last 3 paragraphs, she has been out 3 times and returned with nothing each time!).