Post by Sheena on May 19, 2019 16:33:50 GMT
Hi everyone
I have been very remiss in posting to the forum this year, but I have kept note of dates so I can report the following:
27 March Blue tits began nest building. They were in a hurry because by
7 April we saw one egg and Mrs Blue Tit began roosting at night. In fact she probably started laying on around 3 April because
19 April there were nine eggs and Mrs Blue Tit began brooding the eggs.
1 May The eggs hatched - always difficult to see how many, but we counted a definite seven chicks and could see one egg not hatched. At some stage, one bird must have died because
19 May there are now 6 birds on the verge of fledging - 2 big, 2 medium and 2 small.
I will let you know when they leave the nest. I am always surprised that they all (usually) go on the same day because there is a big difference between the biggest and the smallest.
The weather was cold and wet when the eggs hatched so I put out mini meal worms and wax worms, but to no avail (although the other birds had a feast). We tried, as many of you have, moving them to different locations, but it didn't help. Last year we had no nesting birds, but the year before, the birds did find (after 3 days) the worms and happily used them to feed the chicks - I am sure this is a different pair this year. However, I have to say it was only at the beginning that I was worried, because now the garden is humming with insects and the parents seem to have no trouble bringing in lots of food.
We have a new bird box and camera this year, a wifi one. The pictures are not great and I think the software is to blame (I've been using XMEye and I am not impressed). But it will have to wait until the birds depart. The adults zip in and out of the box at very high speed, impossible to photograph but I will see what I can do.
We have had years when all the chicks have died - one when this happened two days after hatching. It is very sad but you have to look forward to next year's clutch.
Sheena
I have been very remiss in posting to the forum this year, but I have kept note of dates so I can report the following:
27 March Blue tits began nest building. They were in a hurry because by
7 April we saw one egg and Mrs Blue Tit began roosting at night. In fact she probably started laying on around 3 April because
19 April there were nine eggs and Mrs Blue Tit began brooding the eggs.
1 May The eggs hatched - always difficult to see how many, but we counted a definite seven chicks and could see one egg not hatched. At some stage, one bird must have died because
19 May there are now 6 birds on the verge of fledging - 2 big, 2 medium and 2 small.
I will let you know when they leave the nest. I am always surprised that they all (usually) go on the same day because there is a big difference between the biggest and the smallest.
The weather was cold and wet when the eggs hatched so I put out mini meal worms and wax worms, but to no avail (although the other birds had a feast). We tried, as many of you have, moving them to different locations, but it didn't help. Last year we had no nesting birds, but the year before, the birds did find (after 3 days) the worms and happily used them to feed the chicks - I am sure this is a different pair this year. However, I have to say it was only at the beginning that I was worried, because now the garden is humming with insects and the parents seem to have no trouble bringing in lots of food.
We have a new bird box and camera this year, a wifi one. The pictures are not great and I think the software is to blame (I've been using XMEye and I am not impressed). But it will have to wait until the birds depart. The adults zip in and out of the box at very high speed, impossible to photograph but I will see what I can do.
We have had years when all the chicks have died - one when this happened two days after hatching. It is very sad but you have to look forward to next year's clutch.
Sheena
Sheena, was wondering where you were, I’m glad to hear you’ve had a nest and hopefully will go on to have a few fledglings
ready for fledging, so same thing to them - 
Sheena! I'm pleased everything went well for the chicks & they fledged without incident, nice to read good news!
