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Ladies and gents.
I have a question to ask, regarding looking into and taking photoes of nests and their contents.
As some of you may be aware, Pipit and I each have a Blackbirds nest in our respective gardens and we shared a few messages regarding taking photographs of the young as they developed, for each other and for everyone to see. I have since read a message from Pipit, saying that she will cease this, as she has been advised that it is not appropriate to take part in such activity.
I also do not wish to be doing something that will risk the integrity of a nesting bird and am quite willing to stop taking photographs if the common and professional opinion is that this should not occur. However - I am also taking part in the British Trust for Ornithology 'Nestbox Challenge' survey and have logged my Bluetit nestbox and the Blackbird nest as subjects. Within the instructions from the BTO, it clearly states (and actually encourages) that participants should look inside the nestbox to log number of eggs and developing young. It has instructions on how to do this sensitively and with minimal risk to the parent birds and young. I enclose the website link for those who want to read this for themselves. It is subject headed as, 'taking part'. (http://www.bto.org/nbc/taking-part.htm)
In my case, I always wait until the parent bird has left the nest to forage, as I know that I have at least a couple of minutes to make my observations and take a photograph. I have never elicited alarm from either adult Blackbird, as I have gone by the time they return and I am also careful to make sure that the nest remains concealed.
Pipit - could you tell me where you got your advice from? And everybody else - what do you think? I am open to advice and guidance on this. I will say for my own part that I think I am acting in a responsible and careful manner and am not causing any distress to the Blackbirds.
Thanks in advance - Corriepaw.
On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it - Jules Renard
Hi Corriepaw
Very interesting post.
I think my decision was self inflicted after finding a website on 't'internet saying it was illegal to interfere with certain birds nests. When posting this to the forum, several people expressed their views that to interfere with a nest at all might frighten the parents off and draw attention to the nest site for predators. This was enough to make me stop taking my photos. I did exactly the same as you as far as being very careful and I know I never once spooked the parents. The nest is about 3 yards from a table and chairs where mum and I have sat a lot in this good weather. The parents have continued feeding despite us being so close.
I know the 3 chicks are still safe, well and growing because when I pass the nest to go down the garden I can just see 3 enormous beaks.
I will read your link on the BTO with interest, but I'm not going to take any more photos - not because anyone has instructed me not to but because I would hate to be the cause of a predator noticing the nest.
I think they are going to fledge quite soon anyway as I can hear the whirr of them flapping their wings.
I'm now looking forward to taking shots of the fledglings when they are hopping round the garden. I hope yours are safe and well too.
Thanks Corriepaw
Pipit x
Good morning, Pipit.
Thanks for the swift reply. For my part, I will continue to photograph and record the development of these chicks until they fledge, as well as log all details onto the BTO site. I do not handle the chicks or touch the nest itself - this is illegal and, besides, there is no need for me to do so.
As far as studying birds is concerned - quick and clinical, that's my motto.
Perhaps explains why I'm divorced :)
Hi.
Sorry to hog the title page wih this -but I am genuinely keen to hear what everyone thinks?
Corrie.
Corriepaw said: I have a question to ask, regarding looking into and taking photoes of nests and their contents.
Hi Corriepaw, taking photo's of nesting birds is such a complex area.
If you are participating in the Nestbox scheme, then you are correct in saying that you need to colate data for the study.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 needs to be adhered to in relation to disturbance of nesting birds.
Protection of birds
http://www.jncc.gov.uk/PDF/waca1981_schedule1.pdf Schedule 1 birds link.
Albeit a Blackbird isn't a schedule 1 Bird, the last thing you want is the adults abandoning the nest.
You also don't need a licence to photo birds that aren't Schedule 1.
If you wanted to attempt to photograph a Bird that is Schedule 1 you can apply for a license.
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/licences/applicationforms.aspx#6
Half way down the page look for the heading Protected birds - Schedule 1
The license is a WML-A28
If you are participating in the Nestbox Scheme, then you are correct in saying that you need to colate data for the study.
This data is very important to you, knowing exactly the date of when the last egg was dropped. The incubation period can be calculated for the arrival of the Pullus. Once the Pullus have hatched you can callulate the date when the nestlings will fledge.
Incubation is 13 - 14 days and the nestlings fledge at 14 - 16 days.
I'm highlighting the above as Exploding Nestlings / Fledglings can be a major concern!
When approaching an open nest such as Blackbirds you need to be aware that the nest may explode. This is also relevent to nest boxes.
The rapid departure of nestlings of nidicolous birds from their nest if disturbed by a potential predator during the period just before they would normally leave. It is an adaptation for survival, in that if the birds remained in the nest the predator would be likely to kill the entire brood, whereas exploding scatters the brood and so gives at least some of the young the chance to escape, but not necessarily the chance to survive.
I have taken hundreds of photo's of nesting birds and ringed thousands of Pulli, If you have prior knowledge of how to approach the nest and what to do and are participating in a study then I can't see any harm in taking photo's of the progress as long as you have accurate records. However it is something that I personally wouldn't encourage the layman to do!
Hope this helps.
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Hi Buzzard,
Okay, thanks for this information. I don't like the idea of causing a nest of fledglings to explode and forcing them to leave the nest early.
At the moment, the chicks are blind and just driven by a 'feed me' instinct. I reckon the way to go forward will be to stop taking phototes during the latter part of development when they will be more aware and see me as a threat. Unless seeing me every other day whilst they are young when I photograph them takes away the perceived risk, because they are used to the brief visit? Hmm - that sounds too great a risk to take.Taking part in the BTO survey means I will have to get close enough to see into the nest, but not as close as i'd get if I were taking a photograph.
Okay, thanks again Buzzard. I reckon I'll gauge the risk factor each day and stop if I feel that I am posing too high a one.
Corrie
Corriepaw said:At the moment, the chicks are blind and just driven by a 'feed me' instinct
Hi Corriepaw, thanks for the additional info.
If the Pulli are at the blind, naked stage you have approximately 14 days before they fledge. It is the 12 -14 day period when you need to be cautious.
The 300+ nest boxes I check annually, I do roughly 3 to 4 visits to establish the stages from nest building to fledging.
This is a Pied Flycatcher nestling that I ringed last week.
Good Luck with the progress.
Good morning, Buzzard.
Thanks, that confirms it for me then, really. I'll take photographs for about another week and then stop. I was at work last night and got home this morning to find that the Bluetits have fledged from the other nestbox I was monitoring. I never did get to see how many Pulli there were, which is a tad annoying. They've all scarpered.
That Pied Flycatcher nestling puts me in mind of how Robin nestlings look as well.
Thanks again, Corriepaw.
Hello Buzzard
What a particularly attractive little bird that pied flycatcher nestling is. I love its little fluffy tufts.
You are lucky to have that special contact with birds, and doing good at the same time.
cheers