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We had 7 Blue tit chicks in a nestbox over the past four days there has been 1 less leaving 3 is this normal all looked healthy.We have had a greater spotted woodpecker in the garden eating from the fatballs, is it likely that it has taken the chicks,if so why only one at a time.There is no damage to the opening could it get its head in far enough.
Hi gooner
We currently have quite a few threads about Blue Tit chicks going missing or being taken from nestboxes. If your nestbox has a small Blue Tit sized hole, and it hasn't been enlarged then the culprit is less likely to be a Great Spotted Woodpecker, although I suppose it's possible that it might just be able to push it's beak in far enough and pull one out that's nearest the hole, hence only 1 being taken at a time.
I suppose it would depend on how much nesting material is in the box, and how close to the hole the chicks are.
Best wishes Chris
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Some years ago, a great spotted woodpecker reached through a 28mm hole and took three bluetit chicks - but they were close to fledging and could have wandered too close to the front ofthe box.
Hello I'm not sure if I have answered your question on another forum today as like many people im on more than one forum, if you havn't actually seen a woodpecker take the chicks it is possible that the chicks have died and the parents have removed them when you havn't been watching, I have had 4 die this week and have seen the female remove them from the box, I actually watched a little one die ( very hard viewing ) at 11.30 this morning, that chick is still in the nest now and its 3.30, thats something I dont understand and have asked about on a post of my own
It was another blue tit my wife watched it enter the nest box and kill a chick while the parent was out.Not easy to watch.
oh thats so sad worse somehow than your original thought that a woodpecker had taken them
Unknown said: It was another blue tit my wife watched it enter the nest box and kill a chick while the parent was out.Not easy to watch.
I agree that does sound much worse than a woodpecker taking the young as food for it's own chicks. I assume that the other Blue Tit is killing the young because it wants the nestbox for itself, in which case it might be an idea to provide more than one for next year.
Please read this thread from Ian about reporting failed nesting attempts.
is it possible that this was the dad, I keep ducks and I know that sometimes a drake will kill its own young
As a father of 4 boys I know their frustrations so its very possible.