The Bigg Bird Forum

jeelypieces · Joined: 11 Apr 2010 Posts: 8

As I have said, this is my first year with a nest cam. Frustrating because she moved the camera early on in the nest building, so we can only see about half the nest. However, she seems to spend long spells away from the nest, sometimes with her mate looking for her in the nest and calling for her. She is still roosting in the nest every night, but there does'nt seem to be much more activity. We saw a 'courting' pair on our bird bath but did'nt know if they were 'our' bluetits or just visitors. Comments welcome. Thanks

Kit · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 2547 Location: Nottingham

It may be that she's started laying (they often hide the eggs under the nesting material, so you can't always see them very easily). At this stage, the hen bird will lay during the night or in the early morning, but there's not much else for her to do in the nest box. She won't start incubating until she's laid her full clutch. Good luck!

jeelypieces · Joined: 11 Apr 2010 Posts: 8

Thanks for that information, really helpful. She had'nt disappeared, in fact I think she is incubating eggs now. Have seen two but there may be more which I just can't see. Hope she hatches some chicks. JP

jeelypieces · Joined: 11 Apr 2010 Posts: 8

I am so enjoying my first season with a nestcam. My little bird has laid 9 eggs. I get anxious when she leaves the nest in case something happens to her. Her mate does'nt seem to feed her very often. I've seen what I think are another pair of bluetits on the bird bath and on some fat balls but they seem to be a different pair, as they fly off in different directions. Do bluetits not feed near their own nest? JP

Kit · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 2547 Location: Nottingham

They always say that for every bird you count in your garden, you could probably multiply that number by up to 10. Someone – I think it was the BTO – once did a survey, ringing every bird that came to a particular garden. They found that, although the garden only appeared to have a couple of greenfinches visiting, there were actually more than 10 different individuals, and this was true for other species as well. So that blue tit pair we all call 'ours' might well turn out to be quite a number of pairs! Nesting density in gardens can be quite high, and your other pair could have a nest very close by. Your feeding station might just be the most convenient for them.

jeelypieces · Joined: 11 Apr 2010 Posts: 8

My little bluetit hatched 7 out of 9 eggs. However she only seems to feed the two biggest ones. There is no sign of her partner doing anything to help so I don't suppose she'll be able to support all 7 hatchlings. Would it be any help to put mealy worms nearby for her? jp

KathB · Joined: 21 Apr 2010 Posts: 75 Location: Nottingham

Hi Jeelypieces, we had 9 eggs and 8 have hatched as last Wedensday, they are all coming along really well now, both parents are feeding them.

We have a little dish filled with mealworms for them to make it easier which they soon found. We have covered the feedtray which the dish stands on with mesh and an entry hole only big enough for the blue tit, which ensures that our chicks are well fed and the sparrows are too big to get in, the chicks have grown so much since Wednesday and they are all the same size as eachother.

If you get some mealworms, lets hope that the biggest chicks are that stuffed it allows for the weaker ones to get some. Good Luck.

robbiev · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 2

We have lost the father blue tit from a brood in a nesting box we have been monitering via a small camera. Can we help the food supply for the mother could she feed 8 chicks or will she on her own manage to look after a few of the chicks or are they all at risk?

robbie

Strixaluco · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 5464 Location: Mayford, Sy

robbiev · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 2

Thank you Elizabeth for your reply. A warning plain glass door owners blue tits cannot see em and like us you may lose a parent!

jeelypieces · Joined: 11 Apr 2010 Posts: 8

Thanks for the information about the meal worms but I don't quite understand how you get a hole just big enough for a bluetit beak. My little bluetit had five chicks left yesterday, but the three big ones were trampling all over the two little ones when the food arrived. Today, I think the two little ones are dying. She's feeding them quite a bit from my plentiful supply of fat balls. Can anyone tell me how long before they will be fledged? Thanks JP