Post by pete11 on May 11, 2022 16:55:35 GMT
That's interesting Sammi - I'm wondering how insecticides impact the local caterpillar population, too.
But yes, it seems highly possible that residues could be carried in on nesting materials.
The chick hatching-to-fledging period is quite long (18-21 days) for BTs compared to Robins (14). That surely makes BT hatchlings far more vulnerable, together with the fact they start life in such large broods.
I've looked back at recent footage and the BT parents have definitely been bringing in bits of suet a fair bit. That's a sure sign of a natural food shortage.
If only I'd raised my mealworm game things could have been very different.
However: at this very moment we have THREE chicks all still looking as if they're opening mouths and alive...so who knows, they might yet make it. They've survived another day and I'd almost given up hope of even that happening. But there's at least another week left of their official development period so they're not put of the woods yet by any stretch.
But yes, it seems highly possible that residues could be carried in on nesting materials.
The chick hatching-to-fledging period is quite long (18-21 days) for BTs compared to Robins (14). That surely makes BT hatchlings far more vulnerable, together with the fact they start life in such large broods.
I've looked back at recent footage and the BT parents have definitely been bringing in bits of suet a fair bit. That's a sure sign of a natural food shortage.
If only I'd raised my mealworm game things could have been very different.
However: at this very moment we have THREE chicks all still looking as if they're opening mouths and alive...so who knows, they might yet make it. They've survived another day and I'd almost given up hope of even that happening. But there's at least another week left of their official development period so they're not put of the woods yet by any stretch.