I have a coal tit nesting in a box which has a camera in it. Late on Wednesday afternoon she laid 4-5 eggs and seemed quite settled. Anxious to see what was happening, early the next morning I discovered a box with no bird and no eggs. I could see a coal tit around the nest box for most of the day; it occasionally went to the opening, peered in, but then flew off. Then at about 8pm I switched on to find the bird and eggs back in place.
Is it feasible that the bird could have 'buried' the eggs in the nesting material and then gone back to them in the evening?
This is my first season with televised nesting, and I am intrigued!
This is a fairly common occurrence - female birds are very clever about hiding their eggs.
I've even had difficulty in convincing someone that it's quite impossible for a bird to lay more than one egg a day - having seen nothing for some time, he suddenly found a small clutch in the box.
You can read our Nest Box Diary here: http://www.biggonline.co.uk/ - started in 2001.
Great news Hope you can upload some pictures in time
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Hello Alan. What a success story. Please keep in touch.
Great news. I had never seen coal tits around where i live and then two arrived today. Sadly not to take up residence in my next box.
Sarah
Keep us posted
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
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