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Post by suep on Apr 19, 2019 14:35:40 GMT
At least they have some chicks Meryl and hopefully they will stay safe. Good that they have found the mealworms. Sue
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Post by elle on Apr 21, 2019 11:55:17 GMT
Wow Meryl, I don’t know a lot about Gts, but 3 chicks?, isn’t this an extra small clutch?? Elle xx
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on Apr 22, 2019 22:36:09 GMT
Hi Elle. Yes, in all the years we've had birds in the boxes we've never had such a small clutch. Even when we had a second brood there were more. Not sure what's going on this year as there seems to be loads of food and weather is good. They are making use of the mealworms too and the chicks are growing fast. The robins are enjoying them too as I think they have a nest in next door's garden.
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Post by blueeyedchick on Apr 23, 2019 7:05:28 GMT
Might be an older bird Merylt a few infertile eggs may indicate this but nonetheless three is enough to cope with!
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Post by Beechnut on Apr 23, 2019 12:45:47 GMT
That is unusual Meryl to have only 60% hatch, I wouldn't think that there's a shortage of normal food to explain the small clutches and then with you 2 not hatching.
I was disappointed at only getting 5 eggs, but at least they all hatched. You must be really gutted - but as you say, looking positively, the three should be well provided for.
Good luck.
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on Apr 23, 2019 18:42:08 GMT
Hi Beechnut. Should be interesting to see if my 3 catch up to your 5, as yours were hatched a day or two before. The 3 are getting loads of food and seem to be growing rapidly. I don't know whether the amount of food they get per chick makes any difference to the number of days before they fledge. I can compare to the brood we had last year too and see if these fledge sooner. Glad yours have found the mealworms. I cunningly put some out in the days before the eggs hatched by their usual feeder to catch their attention which seemed to work.
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Post by Beechnut on Apr 29, 2019 10:11:58 GMT
How are your remainers doing Meryl? Mine should be thinking of fledging in 5-7 days.
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on Apr 29, 2019 11:22:09 GMT
Hi. Their eyes have opened and doing nicely. They are now living in a sort of subterranean nest. Mrs GT tunnelled down and the chicks are living under the nest material. Looks like an empty nest but occasionally we see a head poking out from under the edge - very funny!
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kevin
Senior Member
Posts: 123
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Post by kevin on Apr 29, 2019 11:57:20 GMT
Hi Meryl I have just caught up reading about your great tits nest, it’s wonderful that three out of five eggs have hatched and the chicks sound to be doing great. Look forward to hearing more.
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Post by Beechnut on Apr 29, 2019 11:58:42 GMT
Pleased to hear they are doing well. The undermining to enlarge the cup is quite normal, although annoying at times if you're doing a head count, as they seem to hide away for ages!
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Post by Taz on Apr 29, 2019 19:59:45 GMT
Glad your 3 are doing well. Hope they grow good and strong.
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Post by elle on Apr 29, 2019 21:38:57 GMT
This is great news Meryl icon_biggrin
Elle xx
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on May 7, 2019 13:52:48 GMT
Our first chick fledged at 9.53am. The other 2 are wing flapping and then falling asleep from the effort. I have been running up and down stairs trying to retrieve our cats from the garden when the chicks look like they might be going and then letting them out when the chicks go quiet. Not sure who's more exhausted, chicks or myself! Parents are bringing in mealworms but not often, however these 2 aren't going until they're ready.
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on May 7, 2019 14:34:09 GMT
The other two have now gone - at 15.20 within seconds of each other. All safely into the trees and the parents have been taking them mealworms. Phew for another year!
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Post by YorksherLass on May 7, 2019 15:35:16 GMT
Meryl! Now you can stop running up & downstairs & rest.
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Post by Beechnut on May 7, 2019 18:06:36 GMT
The super feeding did nearly catch mine up Meryl only about 32 hours in it.
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on May 7, 2019 23:18:43 GMT
Ok - I decided to turn the camera back on late tonight to prove to myself they'd all gone (you know how it is) and there is an adult bird roosting in there! Not sure if it's Mrs GT come back for some reason? She did sleep in there overnight right to the day of the chicks' departure. Anyone have any ideas why she'd come back? I also reviewed the video I took as the last 2 chicks were leaving and realised that the last one pushed the other one out of the hole while she was lurking there deciding whether to go! i.postimg.cc/7hsHWx9z/Mrs-GT-in-nest-roosting.jpg
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Post by Beechnut on May 8, 2019 5:49:31 GMT
Looks like yours could be doing the same as mine - you did say that she was bringing cup lining material in before the fledge.
Could be an egg this morning - I now have 2!
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Post by suep on May 8, 2019 8:14:17 GMT
Oh my goodness Meryl, looks like yours may also be thinking about a second brood. . Such goings on this year yahoo_clap Sue
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Post by Taz on May 8, 2019 11:21:39 GMT
The other two have now gone - at 15.20 within seconds of each other. All safely into the trees and the parents have been taking them mealworms. Phew for another year! Yay, congratulations on your fledglings flying the nest. Would be great if you did get a second brood though.
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merylt
Junior Member
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Post by merylt on May 8, 2019 13:07:46 GMT
How will they manage if there is a second brood? I assumed the chicks stayed with the parents for some weeks..Just as I thought I'd spent out on my last mealworms for this year!
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Post by elle on May 8, 2019 20:08:07 GMT
Congratulations Meryl, I do hope they give you a second brood icon_biggrin its so exciting Elle xx
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on May 9, 2019 6:29:49 GMT
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Post by Beechnut on May 9, 2019 8:27:45 GMT
I have 3 eggs this morning Meryl - I'm not sure how many to expect. I would think this is pretty unique - two forum members with GTs having exactly the same experience!
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Post by suep on May 9, 2019 9:03:59 GMT
Be interesting to be able to find out if this is more common than we all thought. I know other birds leave the male to cope with fledglings while the female starts a new nest so why not GT’s. Great news for both of you. Sue
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