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Post by karenupnorth on May 12, 2019 18:30:55 GMT
Thanks all, sadly I havnt seen her come back to the box, I reckon if she liked it she would be straight into nest building with it being so late, in the mean time Boulder continues to roost in it, he seems to love it but the ladies dont seem impressed. I have now lost count on how many females he has been courting. He just sits in the tree and calls them and they literally just come flying he is a proper lothario!
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Post by karenupnorth on May 13, 2019 12:19:13 GMT
Still not seen the female come again with Boulder so I guess she has found another nest site. On the bright side I visited me mums grave as it is her birthday today and the box put up in her memory has a BT family.
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Post by suep on May 13, 2019 12:24:11 GMT
Oh Karen, sorry about Boulder not keeping a partner, but that is lovely news about the box you put up in memory of your mum, and how lovely you should see it’s occupants on your mums birthday. Very special. Sue
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Post by elle on May 13, 2019 19:45:26 GMT
I’m so happy you have a Bt family in your mums memory box Karen Elle xx
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Post by karenupnorth on May 13, 2019 21:46:51 GMT
Thank you elle, my mum was a bird lover and nature lover in general so she would be thrilled.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 16, 2019 9:31:56 GMT
That's wonderful Karen, I understand how thrilled you are that you found this out on your Mum's birthday.
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Post by karenupnorth on May 18, 2019 8:06:40 GMT
anthropologist salary in south africaI thought I would post this here to keep it with the nest boxes, this is Vicky at my work, I was hoping to catch her off the nest but she has at least two healthy chicks, food should be in abundance as the area is surrounded by mature trees.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 18, 2019 8:40:11 GMT
I thought I would post this here to keep it with the nest boxes, this is Vicky at my work, I was hoping to catch her off the nest but she has at least two healthy chicks, food should be in abundance as the area is surrounded by mature trees. Good idea Karen, because others may not have seen it on your other thread.
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 18, 2019 11:52:53 GMT
Lovely pictures Karen, Glad the box in work and one by your mums grave both being used.
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Post by elle on May 19, 2019 18:49:55 GMT
Brilliant shot Karen, I know I’ve said it before but it’s such a shame the service users are not getting to see these birds in real time, but glad all going well for both your boxes, and I’m sure your mum would be glad to know her memory box is now home to a lovely family Elle xx
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Post by sammi on May 20, 2019 14:31:42 GMT
Such a lovely way to remember your Mum Karen. Lovely pic of chicks peeping from under mum too.
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Post by suep on May 25, 2019 12:34:52 GMT
Sorry I missed this Karen, beautiful photo of the mum and chicks, so pleased these two boxes have brought some good news for you. Hope next year you will have nest in your garden too. Sue
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Post by blueeyedchick on May 25, 2019 13:28:52 GMT
Karen I was going to have just a tree and and a plaque when I go but what a great idea to have a memorial bird box instead or as well as! A fantastic tribute to your Mum sure she would be chuffed to bits. Lovely picture of Vicky.
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Post by karenupnorth on May 26, 2019 7:59:44 GMT
Thanks suep and blueeyedchick, my mum loved wildlife and especially enjoyed feeding the birds and watching them come into the garden, the cemetery is actually a really lovely place, well kept and also very rural, it has fields and open countryside around it and has a small wooded area close to mums resting place were people put up bird feeders and so I thought it a great place to put up some boxes, when I visit I can sit for ages just watching the birds and listening to the sound of birdsong. Incidentally I spotted mt first Redwing there back in winter! There is also a quite tame Robin that with encouragement I think will take food from the hand.
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Post by sammi on May 26, 2019 16:34:21 GMT
Hi Karen, if you take some Mealworm with you I bet the Robin will be eating out of your hand in no time. Sounds a really beautiful spot.
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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.
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Post by sammi on May 31, 2019 7:55:13 GMT
Such a sad end to all the hard work the parents put in 🤧 As you say who knows what really happened. Were they close to fledging?
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Post by suep on May 31, 2019 8:16:27 GMT
Oh Karen, what an upset for you. This has been a bad year for a lot of us, and not really knowing what or why is even worse. So sorry for you Would be my guess that one of the parents could have been taken by the cat, but surely not both. I suppose like you say they could have been frightened off by it but most unlikely to both go and abandon any chicks. Perhaps it wasn’t anything to do with the cat - as you say, will never know - really upsetting. Sue
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Post by Beechnut on May 31, 2019 8:33:52 GMT
Sorry to hear your sad news Karen, that sort of thing happens all the time across Nature, and it's a price we have to pay for the insight into everyday wildlife and unfortunately we have to take the bad with the good. We like to look into their lives with our cameras and embrace their successful propagation but find it hard to accept when things go wrong. Have a hug.
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Post by karenupnorth on May 31, 2019 9:39:17 GMT
Thanks all, sammi they still had a way to go to fledge,it had some feathers but still very small, I agree we have to take the good with the bad unfortunately, and like sue says all the hard work for the parents, their time of prepping and building, caring and for nothing.
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 31, 2019 11:22:44 GMT
What a sad ending Karen Nature can be cruel sometimes, From pictures you showed me on twitter of dead chick, Looks like the cat didn't manage to get into the box. Nest was in perfect condition maybe mum and dad give up? Or 1 chick died they removed that and second one died and they simply just give up and left it. Either way very sad outcome, This year seems to be a bad year for many nests. We have all had healthy chicks just suddenly die, Its been so strange.
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Post by karenupnorth on May 31, 2019 12:56:12 GMT
Indeed Paul, we will never know really. Lets hope for better things next year.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 31, 2019 15:02:10 GMT
Oh Karen, I'm so sorry to read your latest messages about your poor little chicks' demise, after all you & their parents did for them. The residents are also upset no doubt as we all are - but as you say it's so frustrating not to know what really happened. Thinking of you and sending
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Post by karenupnorth on Jun 5, 2019 7:00:11 GMT
Really happy this morning, Speck and Boulder brought their babies over to the Rowan tree were they are feeding them. I havnt had a clear view yet to get a pic and I am not sure how many they have, but it is lovely to see them working together and also knowing their little ones have fledged successfully.
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Post by suep on Jun 5, 2019 7:51:39 GMT
Nice treat for you Karen and good news Sue
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