I have a bird box on the side of my shed with a camera. Great tits used it with great success last year, this year they've returned and hatched 11 eggs 2 days ago. For some reason they have not returned to feed them, its been over 8 hours without the parents showing up. I feel so helpless.
Hi and welcome to the forum ... it's that time of year again when many folk with camera nestboxes are witnessing the tragedies of nature, I can understand your feelings of helplessness cos there's nothing can be done to save these chicks if the parents have maybe been predated or scared off by something, can only wish you better luck in following a successful brood next year!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
I think a similar thing has happened here. Heard a cat making a load of noise outside the lounge window....where the great tit nest box is. I associated that cat noise with either two cats getting territorial......or a cat has caught something.....not seen or heard from the great tits since. Unlikely both of your adults were predated, but one may have been and the other cut its losses.
I've noticed some small feather on the lawn near the box location,ive had a visit last year 3 times by a sparrow hawk who took 3 pegions so im thinking one of the parents has be predated and lime you day the other parent has cut its losses. Its a real shame, I'll have to empty the box today, just a waste of lives but nature can seem cruel.
Please don't empty the box til end of breeding season. That's the standard process.
Ok didn't know that, thanks for the info