Post by karenupnorth on May 31, 2019 6:58:43 GMT
So sad to report that the chicks in the work box have died 
I was at work Tuesday and all seemed well, I saw the male bird taking food and could hear the chicks, the female was in the box and one chick had its head up for food when I had a look, Later that evening I heard alarm calls and could see the male flying around very agitated, when I went out to check, there was a cat climbing the tree up to the box, I chased it away and all was calm again. I was back at work yesterday at 4pm, didnt look in box, but on my break I sat and watched, was a little concerned at the lack of activity, didnt see any visits at all, a resident told me the cat was around again on Wednesday, she saw it twice.
So decided to look, there was one dead chick, probably been dead a day not any longer, no decay or smell, the other chick must have died before and the mother removed it, leaving just this one. Really dont get how this one died, cant be lack of food, as there are mature trees in abundance, also he would be getting all the food with no siblings, just dont understand it
he looked to be developing well just as it should for its age, so its a mystery. Would they abandon the nest and chick if the cat threatened them, or perhaps the cat predated the mother. will never know.
I was at work Tuesday and all seemed well, I saw the male bird taking food and could hear the chicks, the female was in the box and one chick had its head up for food when I had a look, Later that evening I heard alarm calls and could see the male flying around very agitated, when I went out to check, there was a cat climbing the tree up to the box, I chased it away and all was calm again. I was back at work yesterday at 4pm, didnt look in box, but on my break I sat and watched, was a little concerned at the lack of activity, didnt see any visits at all, a resident told me the cat was around again on Wednesday, she saw it twice. So decided to look, there was one dead chick, probably been dead a day not any longer, no decay or smell, the other chick must have died before and the mother removed it, leaving just this one. Really dont get how this one died, cant be lack of food, as there are mature trees in abundance, also he would be getting all the food with no siblings, just dont understand it
he looked to be developing well just as it should for its age, so its a mystery. Would they abandon the nest and chick if the cat threatened them, or perhaps the cat predated the mother. will never know.