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Hi there
We would appreciate some information please.
We have three camera nest boxes within our garden, one with 6 great tit chicks (hatched 12-14 May), one with 8+ blue tit chicks (hatched 19/20 May), and one with 8+ blue tit eggs which have failed to hatch to date.
The blue tit female started sitting around the same time as the great tit (1 May 10) and we are starting to become concerned about the eggs.
Is it possible that she may have been sitting on the eggs but didn't actively incubate them for 10 days or so whilst the weather was still cold (ie her heat pad developed a long time after the eggs were laid)? Is there still hope?
If the eggs have failed because of the cold snap or lack of fertilisation will she eventually give up? If so, how long before this happens? In this case is it possible that a new layer of nest and new clutch will be laid in the nest box?
Many thanks
Sue
Hi there and welcome to the forum!
Unfortunately nest failure occurs regularly with our common garden birds and is one of the many trials and tribulations that they face. The eggs may have been infertile, they could have been affected by the period of cold weather that the UK experienced in early May or the parents may have been otherwise occupied with disturbance, predators or competition with other birds.
All you can do is watch and wait and see if anything comes of that nesting box. If you do not see any more activity then hopefully next year will be more successful. You may wish to clean the box out in October so that a pair can start from scratch next spring.
Warden Intern at Otmoor.