Fledged Great Tits

Hi Pipit

I almost binned that photo. Now I'm glad that I didn't :-)

Best wishes Chris

Chris

I'm glad you didn't too.

Apart from being sooo cute, it's given AL the perfect opportunity for a corker of a caption.

Isn't nature fab!!!!

Pipit xx

Brilliant caption, Al. So funny. It could be used in a magazine.

Hello Stu

When great tits fledge, the parents lead them up to the tree canopies. The purpose of this is to have the fledglings close to the food source so that they no longer need to travel any distance between the food source and the hungry mouths. Also, being up in the canopy, the youngsters will learn where the food comes from, and have the opportunity to forage for themselves as soon as possible.

As the family is no longer tied to a nest, the adults can take their brood around on a guided tour of all the suitable foraging sites they themselves know of. These, of course, include garden feeders, so the youngsters will learn where the easy refuelling stations are as well as the natural food sources. Since the birds can travel some distances during this period, many of us will find the garden very quiet for a while after the chicks leave the nest.

Hi Chris

Im real glad you dident bin that photo  Its a belter I realy like it.

Glad ye liked the caption lol

Cheers

AL

Great answer Trochilus.

I remember when the baby Blue Tits {over the years} left my bird box - I could hear and see the youngsters being looked after by mum and dad.  Lots of vocal calling here, there, and everywhere.

Flying exercises form the Whitebean Tree to the Apple Tree was a great route for wing strengthing.  That was a few metres to go each way, and 10 miles to a little one LOL

So I think the parent bird look after the youngsters until they are secure in their environment.

Chris love the Great tit picture what a cutie!

Regards

Kathy and Dave

Thanks for the information, it was very interesting. We have noticed that since the Great Tits left, there doesn`t seem to be many bird in the garden.  Only a few sparrows & pigeons.  No starling, chaffinch, blue tits, gold finch. green finch.  Even the black birds are gone.  The only bonus is I'm not having to fill the feeders every day.