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Post by sammi on Apr 30, 2019 19:49:32 GMT
Me too Elle. I wonder where they go
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 9:43:57 GMT
Great pictures Elle
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Post by Ann70 on May 1, 2019 9:48:25 GMT
i also wonder where they go, specially when there are fledging from both great tits and bluetits most years' only ever see the young around about up to the start of autumn
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Post by blueeyedchick on May 4, 2019 14:11:27 GMT
Oh dear elle the Bee, thank goodness she wasn't accidentally stung in the process, hope all goes without hitch from now on
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Post by elle on May 7, 2019 20:41:08 GMT
Well folks, Estmated due date is Thursday, but I’m rather annoyed as neither Zorro or Poppy using my mealworms, Been putting them out for a week in the Scott feeder , and Zorro has literally took 2, so subsequently the other birds are benefitting. In past years I normally put them out and they use them within a couple of days. Last year I couldn’t keep up with the amount they were eating.! will see if they take up on them, before they go off Elle xx
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Post by suep on May 8, 2019 8:19:46 GMT
Know the feeling Elle, been putting mealworms out for past week in the hope they ‘find’ them and so far neither blue tit has been anywhere near. Replace each morning and put the old ones on bird table so not going to waste as robins, sparrows and blackbirds loving them. Not meant to be for them though Sue
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Post by blueeyedchick on May 8, 2019 9:18:07 GMT
Elle, similar to my bunch but they are preferring Waxies now they have chicks. They are also bringing in natural food again this morning despite the rain. In your case they know where they are and will probably increase their consumption if things get tough.
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 8, 2019 12:34:22 GMT
Our blue tits haven't touched the mealworms either yet, Same thing happens each year though, They prefer the waxworms over the mealworms for the first week or so. When chicks get abit more demanding they start using the mealworms. Plenty of natural food coming in aswell which is good, All we can do is put them out if birds don't use them take it as a good sign natural food is plenty.
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Post by suep on May 8, 2019 20:56:42 GMT
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Post by elle on May 8, 2019 20:57:49 GMT
Sue & Kathy I’ve never had a problem with the BT’s taking the mealworms before, I thought with weather being so bad they would want them more! Zorro is taking the odd one when Poppy goes out to him, but that it!! Paul normally mine are other way round, mealworms first then after a while they start taking waxworms when the chicks are a few days old, must admit they did like them better last year. Poppy & Zorro became parents this morning, first one hatched at about 6.30, followed an hour later with no. 2, I got home from work and no. 3 was there, they do look smaller than normal for some reason. So tomorrow should bring the other 4 Weather is absolutely horrendous, torrential rain all day and very cold, from what I’ve seen, zorro has brought a couple of small caterpillars, I’m so frustrated because I have mini mealworms for chicks & regular for the pair, but they really aren’t interested Poppy looking for her man Her babies Daddy bring in in the food and inspecting his new chicks Elle xx
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Post by sammi on May 8, 2019 21:19:40 GMT
Congrats to those hard working parents. Hope the weather improves for them now that the feeding runs have begun Beautiful pics.
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Post by Ann70 on May 9, 2019 5:10:22 GMT
Great news Ellie,i will be at school, but my hubby works from home so he is on bird box duty to see if activity picks up today.if he remembers that is hope all goes well
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Post by suep on May 9, 2019 9:12:11 GMT
Lovely pics Elle. Hopefully the parents will use mealworms if it becomes necessary. Just don’t know what goes on in their minds. Last year mine totally ignored the mealworms to the detriment of their chicks which was extremely upsetting and frustrating. Unfortunately we can only provide them and hope they will use if needed. Here’s hoping yours are sensible parents Sue
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Post by YorksherLass on May 9, 2019 11:40:10 GMT
Congratulations Elle on becoming a grandma Lovely photos of Poppy & Zorro's little family so far & hopefully more today, although the weather is still awful here too.
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 9, 2019 11:43:25 GMT
Brilliant Elle, Only just seen your post, How many do you have now? Wouldnt worry to much about not using the live food, If they can find nature food its all good, The weather is looking likely to be the last day of rain today (for liverpool anyway) Looks like temps are set to be up to 18c by sunday and sunnny, And carrying on into the new week. Lets hope it sticks like that perfect weather for finding natural food!
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Post by elle on May 9, 2019 21:58:52 GMT
Well everyone, Zorro is occasionally using the mealworms (regular) I think mainly for himself and mrs, even though I have minis on the other side of the feeder, so what I’ve done tonight is the old switcheroo!! I do leave some in overnight for the early feed, before my get up time! So will see tomorrow if he or she takes them from that side. Paul - I have no idea how many I have up to now, I have seen 4 but it’s all bodies and wobbly heads and I’ve seen at least 2 unhatched eggs, maybe they are staggering like Kathys’ weather has been pouring with rain upto late afternoon, and much the same tomorrow. Weekend is supposed to be looking up though Elle xx ps I must say Zorro is one handsome bird, and looks in pristine condition
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 9, 2019 22:13:24 GMT
Glad the mealworms now being used Elle, Our two have been using them today, They was being picky and only going the waxworm feeder at first. But with all the rain and that they must of thought can't afford to be picky now lets take the mealworms aswell!
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Post by YorksherLass on May 10, 2019 10:38:39 GMT
Brilliant idea Elle to do a switcheroo & I hope you have seen that your good idea worked this morning! I'd planned to get some farmyard manure down in the garden today, but just after I'd put my coat on - it started raining again & it wasn't supposed to until this afternoon.
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Post by suep on May 13, 2019 15:01:24 GMT
How are things going Elle? Hope now they have found the mealies it’s full steam ahead. Mine haven’t even looked at them . Probably early days for mine but hope they don’t do what last years pair did and ignore to the peril of the chicks. Sue
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Post by elle on May 13, 2019 21:39:17 GMT
Haven’t been on for couple of days, been babysitting a Puppy for my daughter, so been extra busy! Poppy & Zorros eggs hatched over 3 days, so have some very big chicks & the last chick is very small, but Poppy seems to be shuffling them enough so all the chicks get their fair share! I do hope this continues. Both parents doing great job, Poppy even caught a fly which had found its way into the box, she quickly took it out & came back to check on her babies I still don’t know for sure how many chicks there are, I thought there were 8 eggs & I have definitely counted 7 today, but the little one (8th hatchling) seems to get his mouth underneath a feather, it’s so frustrating to watch. Zorro is being the doting dad as he was last year, he is very attentive to Poppy and his chicks, he is mainly bringing in caterpillars, might as well have not bought the mealworms (especially the minis) total waste! Although the other small birds are loving them, downside is they are attracting my worst bird of all (greedy starlings) sorry for anyone who loves them, unfortunately I don't, also the dreaded Magpies, which I certainly don’t want to attract, so from tomorrow I will put my old mealies out back near to all the trees, that way they will be a distraction away from my garden. Still putting the regular mealies in the Scott feeders though, occasional take up, but I don’t think they would have missed them if I hadn’t bought any!, last year the chicks where fed purely on mealies and waxworms, so strange! Elle xx
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Post by suep on May 14, 2019 8:26:37 GMT
Mine are also ignoring mealies so far (I have mini and regular). They hopefully will use if needed but as you say Elle they are attracting other less desirable birds to the garden. Really not sure which is best way to go . At moment I am replacing mealworms daily in two different Scott feeders and putting the day old unused ones in a dish on bird table so they don’t get wasted or just die in the heat. Don’t like the fact that the other birds are now a threat to my blue tits. Trouble is even when the easy pickings are gone the other birds hang onto the Scott feeders looking and trying, even though they’ve no chance of getting at the worms. Decisions decisions Sue
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 14, 2019 9:22:17 GMT
Elle, I have that in my box at the moment, 2 chicks less developed because they hatched 2 days later. I think that is a theme this year some eggs hatching later, All getting good amount of food though so will be fine. Our male doesn't use the mealworms or waxworms, He brings everything natural in. Tatty on the other hand, She is all about the waxworms and mealworms. Funny sometimes, Male goes out looking food and all 7 chicks hungry but time he's back normally around 10 minutes tops Tatty's already made her "mealworm/waxworms run" as we like to call it and been in and out box about 10 times in that 10 minutes He gets back and wonders why chicks no longer want food bless him though!
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Post by YorksherLass on May 16, 2019 9:50:19 GMT
Thanks for your updates Elle & Sue & like you Elle, I haven't been here for a few days, so now trying to catch up.
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Post by elle on May 16, 2019 16:12:07 GMT
Hi all, Diane I’m afraid the switcheroo never worked, Zorro soon learnt where the regular size was!, total waste of time buying the minis, neither touch them. Sue - I do exactly the same with the old mealies, put them in a dish for all the neighbourhood birds to enjoy, then put fresh in Scott feeder. I have to say though, this year they are relying on more of the natural food, were as in all the past years they usually rely on the ‘charity given food’ (my mealies!!) Now then, I finally have an update on how many chicks.! I thought I had 8 eggs, but in fact I ‘had’ 9 eggs! 1 egg still unhatched 8 chicks hatched 1 small one passed away & still being tossed around (hatched on 3rd day) 7 remaining chicks & all ok at the moment Zorro doing a grand job, feeding lots. And Poppy (I think ) has OCD!! With cleaning Cos she’s always house keeping!!!! Unhatched egg plain to see!! Elle xx
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 16, 2019 17:42:59 GMT
Aww Elle, Sorry you lost one! I'm glad the other 7 doing well though really great number to get fledgling!
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