I live near a large lake which is absolutely wonderful for watching birds - several Great Crested Grebes, coots, moorhens, mallards, cormorants, canada geese and about 35 swans.I have been watching the birds build their nests and lay eggs - first I watched some grebes build a nest quite alarmingly close to the bank. I saw an egg one day - but within a couple of days the egg and the birds had gone. I put this down to predators or waterlogging of the nest or some natural cause.Recently I saw a swan on her nest with 3 eggs, but when I returned within a day or two the eggs and the bird were gone - no eggshells or sign of struggle. A few days later I returned and the swan had moved nests and was sitting on 3 eggs - half the size of the previous eggs - with a goose watching intently! She had stolen the eggs to replace her own, I think. (I've attached a picture of this!)I came back the next day - the goose had got her nest back, and looked pretty determined that she wasn't going to give it up again. But, later the same evening, again, the eggs were gone - no shells and no sign of struggle. The geese and the swan were still around the nest, clearly missing their eggs.What is happening? Are the eggs being taken by people or is it a predator? What animal can carry eggs of that size without breaking them? Could it be the seagulls?It's very sad watching all these eggs disappear!
Hello Sarahaccident,
Welcome to Communities. Whilst I cannot sadly, completely rule out human interference, both foxes and mink are capable to stealing birds eggs of this size.
Claire
Hi and welcome
Sounds like you have someone collecting eggs, If there is a warden for the lake then mention it to him.
Ray
a good laugh is better than a tonic
As MrsT says both fox and mink are quite capable of robbing nests with eggs this size and often will carry the eggs out of the area before eating them,rats also will take the smaller of the eggs.It is unfortunate that human interference cannot be ruled out,the act of robbing nests is still rife in some areas although it is usually rarer birds that are the target.Very little can be done about the natural causes other than legal predator control and it could be dangerous to approach any person raiding the nests
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
Thank you everyone. It is so disappointing to watch the eggs disappear! I knew that the life of birds is pretty brutal and bringing up chicks is a long shot but the reality of how many times they lose a clutch or swap nests is hard to deal with!
I have reported it to my local police anyway just in case it is an egg thief. It is a very highly trafficked area with lots of kids and teenagers around. But I have seen rats and it is probably a fox or something like that. I'll have to either stop watching the nests or man up!
sarahaccident said:I'll have to either stop watching the nests or man up!
Always worth keeping an eye out as if people are around egg thieves (human or animal) are often deterred by the pesence of others.No need to "man up" as you put it,it is these feelings that keep us above the animals.