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Baby Blue Tits

christinecracknell
12/05/2014 03:28
Hi Everyone, I am new too! Joined after spending a fantastic day at Minsmere in my native Suffolk. Feeling sad today as I think my Blue Tit chicks have suddenly died. I have a lovely Woodcrete nest box and have had two successful broods fledge from it. This year was the same as the others with the pair sheltering in it during the early spring, then a nest building frenzy etc. We noticed that the female looked quite "ugly" with pale markings and a very scruffy head and feathers, but she was very busy feeding the young along with the male. We don't have a camera but every time we went into our Outhouse beside the box, the babies would call to us. Two days ago we noticed only the male feeding, coming back with caterpillars and insects but not going into the box! He seemed very stressed and was calling to the chicks and scouring the flower beds for the female, but no reply, very sad! Seems it could be the cold to blame and/ or the female has been predated!
  • 0 12/05/2014 04:27 in reply to doggie

    Hi Alan, It's possible they have fledged already, but would of thought male bird wouldn't of bothered bringing food to box still. Will have to look inside I suppose although not looking forward to it. Also know that nest and contents shouldn't be removed till end of summer.

  • 0 12/05/2014 04:39 in reply to doggie

    Its a great shame as they are so entertaining and was looking forward to watching them fledge as I did last year and managed to get  bit of video of them doing so. Oh well there's always next year!

  • 0 12/05/2014 15:58 in reply to christinecracknell

    Hi Christine, sry to hear the Blue Tits may be having a hard time,  the parents do tend to look very ragged during their busy time in rearing the chicks, we have one or two very tatty looking BTs and we can't work out the box activity at all as sometimes they are in and out regularly and at other times I don't seem signs of activity so I am also fearing problems although I cannot check until end of summer when nesting season is completely over.    With all the recent rainfall and mixed seasonal conditions I think the birds are having a tough time but at least as you say the Green Caterpillars are around so there should be plenty of natural food for the parent or parents to continue feeding any nestlings.   Good luck, hope there is a happy outcome and you see fledglings in due course.  Even if there is only one parent left it will try to keep up the feeding regime to the chicks so fingers crossed you may have one or two still able to fledge.

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    Regards, Hazel 

  • 0 14/05/2014 05:17 in reply to HAZY

    Thanks Hazel and Alan, Male bird not seen at all now so must of given up! As we can slide front of box down we had a look today and as we thought, found 11 dead chicks, some layered under others that we think perished first. Was very sad to see so many that could of added to the population, nature is cruel! Left nest intact till end of season.

  • 0 14/05/2014 06:04 in reply to christinecracknell

    Oh dear Christine,  I am so very sorry to hear that, how very sad to find that many dead chicks, as you say, nature can be cruel too :(

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    Regards, Hazel