Hello -
Probably a daft question . We have a pair of Blue Tits and Great Tits who are regular visitors to our garden. Both pairs have bred and their fledglings now also inhabit our garden mostly.
The possible area of concern is the state of the both sets of parents' feathers ( the Great and Blue Tits). They look greasy - almost wet . They also look really grubby. I'm hyper vigilant regarding diseases. We keep our feeding stations fastidiously clean and they have fresh water twice a day as a result.
Is this normal for the plumage on maturer birds to look so greasy or could it be disease? I'm sure they looked better before winter. Both sets of birds are lively, no sign of growths or lethargy - the obvious indications of sickness.
If anyone can help it would be really appreciated...perhaps I'm just showing my ignorance and this is normal!
Many Thanks.
Hello Ange
I cannot be sure but I believe it is simply because the parents work so hard when successfully rearing a family, that they neglect their own grooming. It may be that they just haven't had time to groom or bathe properly.
I have seen many coaltits, bluetits and greattits after raising young and they can look really unkempt and greasy as you describe. Luckily, they soon recover when the chicks start feeding themselves.
Hopefully, a more knowledgeable member will reply and confirm my answer.
Kind regards Jane.
Aye Ange
Jef is right at this time of year they all look bedrageled and unkept because they are tending to there young and not themselves.
Once the young start to fend for themselves the adults will tend to there own feathers .
Cheers
AL
If its no fun Yer no doin it right!
Hello Ange,
Yep - absolutely, it is because the parent birds neglect their own vanity and cleanliness because they are so busy trying to keep up with the demands of several gaping beaks. Once the brood is independant, they very soon scrub up as bright as new.
I have had Bluetits use my nestbox again this year and both parents looked as if they had slept for several weeks on a park bench whilst hitting the whisky bottle. In fact, one of them took a rare dip in my birdbath yesterday and if a beak could smile, that's what he or she was doing. I could almost see a little speech bubble appear above the bird as it thrashed around. It read, "Bliss!"
The chicks fledged yesterday as well, so pretty soon the parents will be able to sort themselves out and become cute again.
Corriepaw.
On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it - Jules Renard
Hi Ange,
My few are the same. They look like they have been dragged through a hedge backwards. I didn't know why, so thanks for asking the question, and thank you everyone for giving the answer!!!
Corriepaw, your humour never fails to make me laugh, even in the mornings.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Thank you Sparrow, but don't be fooled. I'm only funny until my drugs wear off. x
Hi...BIG THANKS to Corriepaw, Sparrow, Al and Jef...
I'm afraid I couldn't find a 'reply all' function so I've replied to you, Corriepaw, with the hope the others will read.
Really helpful advice. I feel reassured! Brilliant.
Thanks all,
Ange