EMPTY NEST AS CHICKS FLEDGE

This day had been coming for a while, but it seems only yesterday when I got excited about seeing the first great tit eggs laid.

In just 40 days the female has laid eight eggs, incubated them and with the help of the male, raised eight healthy chicks to fledging. A remarkable achievement and one I was privileged to witness through the nestbox camera.

The activity inside a nest, den or lair as wildlife brings up their young was rarely seen by anyone, but now thanks to tiny cameras and extensive digital equipment, it is available to those of us who choose to witness a wonderful part of the circle of life.

I watched the great tit chicks from 5.30am yesterday morning, but still missed the first two fledging. I could see them in the nearby trees and hear the adults encouraging the others to leave the nest.

Three more made it out, before another fledged as I got into my car. One landed on next door's outside wall before joining the family in the trees.

Below is a series of images taken from 6.00am during the fledging. The final image is of the chick clinging to next door's house - it's just above the white brick in the centre of the screen.

When I returned home from work in the evening the nestbox was empty and I contemplated another 10 months with little activity.

But in a final twist I noticed last night a bird using the nestbox to roost (see below). I think it's one of the adult great tits, but I can only speculate as to why she it there.

My thinking is there's a possibility of a new brood, but I'd welcome people's opinions and expertise as I don't know.

I will of course check over the weekend and update my blog accordingly.

OK, TIME TO GO, NOW!

I'm beginning to think the great tit chicks are like modern day children; living at home for longer and longer, not wanting to live a comfortable life.

Tonight they showed unruly behaviour as 'mum' was constantly cleaning the nest and ushering them towards the exit.


Unfortunately the warm(ish) weather and hints from their parents couldn't get the chicks to shift.

Will the fledge tomorrow? I'll be up earlier than usual to find out and hopefully see a fledging, if it indeed does happen!

TOO WINDY TO FLEDGE?

The great tit chicks are still in the nestbox, despite often standing on top of each other peering out of the hole.

The weather today has been windy and with wet and very windy promised for tomorrow, I suspect it won't be the best day to fledge.

Perhaps they will wait until Tuesday, but my guess on when the fledging will take place has not been exactly accurate, so I'll now adopt a 'see what happens' attitude.

The parents are still bringing in lots of food and I've noticed more and more green caterpillars being brought which makes me think there's plenty of them.

I'm hoping the chicks will wait til I get home before fledging! Come back tomorrow night to see if they d0.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Two days after I thought the great tit chicks would fledge, they are still in the nest, almost bursting out of the entrance hole.

Yesterday (Friday) the chicks were once again very active early in the morning (see video) but the weather doesn't seem quite right for the to fledge. Either that or a comfy home with food brought by a waiter and waitress (mum and dad) is too good to leave.

The most amusing time is at night when the mother great tit tries to keep the chicks warm be lying on top of them, although she's merely balancing on their heads! (see below pic)

And so with a warm sunny morning I was expecting the chicks to fledge today, so took this picture (below) in case it was the last chance.

But as I spent time in the garden it became clear that the parents were continually feeding the chicks, who seemed quite content to be fed while enjoying the May sunshine peering into the nestbox.

I left them for most of the day, due to various circumstances, returning to find them being fed and tonight watch as they sleep on top of each other. Nine birds in a small nestbox does make amusing viewing.

Will this image be the same tomorrow or will it empty. Surely they must fledge but with a cooler, fresher day and wet and windy weather on Monday, could they stay put for a few more days? Stay tuned.

PREENING FEATHERS

The chicks are growing by the minute and are now pushing each other around the nestbox as they stretch their feathers and legs.

The good news is all eight chicks have so far made it, although if they all make it to next year, it'll be a miracle such is the force of mother nature.

They'll be fledging soon, which is both sad and rewarding. Sad because the while family has provided great entertainment, but rewarding because it's good to know my efforts in providing a suitable home has helped the parent great tits to raise a family.

The insight, we all have gained, into one of the UK's most popular garden birds during the last few months has been excellent and a privilege that the great tits have let us do it.

The camera has taken a bit of a battering and the viewing angle has changed a few times, particularly since the nest was built, but the live footage has been the most popular channel on our TV recently.

Even my ten month old daughter waves at 'the birdies' every time she comes into the lounge and looks at the TV; she even tries to touch the chicks as they move and shouts at the adults when they come in to the nest!

Once the chicks fledge I'm hoping the parents come back soon to raise another brood. I'll reflect on this breeding season once the chicks are gone, but this year could see a huge rise in chicks raised by birds as the first ones appeared at least two weeks earlier than last year.

I'm hoping to film the fledging but here's a video of the chicks being fed tonight.

WING STRETCHING

It's been a few days since I last updated this blog, but a stomach bug has affected the adults in our house, meaning most of my time has been sent either being ill or playing nurse!

The good news is the bug has finished its work and the even better news is the great tit chicks are bursting out of the nest.

Below are images that show how big the chicks have grown since Friday night. But first the video taken from today showing just how much of the nest the chicks have taken up.

Despite the damp and cool weather the parents have done very well and although I can't tell if all eight chicks have survived, I'm hoping when they fledge in the next few days to find out.

Saturday 14th May 8.00am

Saturday 14th May 8.00pm

Sunday 15th May 8.00am

Sunday 15th May 8.00pm

Tuesday 17th May 6.00pm

FEATHERING THE NEST

The weather in May is like April, full of showers and gradually cooler weather.

But nothing is dampening the spirits of the great tit parents as they continue to ensure their eight chicks are fed.

The feeding frenzy is obviously working as the chicks are now filling the nest and jostling for position when the next delivery of mealworms or caterpillars is brought in.

I suspect it's only a matter of days before the chicks fledge and I hope the weather improves so the chicks have the maximum chance of survival.

On a sad note a witnessed a female duck and her eight ducklings, on their way to a water source, being run over and killed by a car on a local road. The car didn't brake or even try to avoid the family and it made my heart sink deeper than I ever thought wildlife would make me feel.

I suspect having my own young family and watching the great tits be born and grow up has contributed to me feelings.

On a happier note the images below are from yesterday morning to this evening, giving you an idea of how much the great chick tits have grown.

Thursday 7am

Thursday 7pm

Friday 7am

Friday 7pm

A PECKING ORDER

Another day and several more feathers are starting to show on all of the great tit chicks.

While at most times only four to six chicks have their bright, wide yellow mouths visible to the camera, I have counted all eight at once today.

The mini mealworms arrived today and a scattered a few around this evening before watching the adult great tits feed their chicks.

I've not seen much of the other wildlife in the garden as I spent much of the evening dealing with the wild animal that is my daughter!

Below are two images taken first thing in the morning and just before the chicks are put to bed for the night.

6.30am

8.00pm

FEATHERED FRIENDS

Another day for the eight great tit chicks has seen them start to show their feathers.

At just five days old I'm amazed at how much they grow in 24 hours. The parents constant feeding is obviously working well as all the chicks seem to be progressing well.

I won't get much chance to see them until the weekend but will have morning and evening images from tomorrow of them.

A new delivery of mealworms arrived today, just in time as the previous supply will run out tomorrow.

As you can see from the picture the chicks are already becoming greedy and wanting food every second of daylight hours.

The garden has benefited from some heavy rain showers this week, the pond in particular is reaping the rewards. The frog is now officially a pond resident and I caught up with him this evening.

Other wildlife are carrying on the spring task of raising young and I'm expecting to see more fledglings in the garden in the next few days. I think the robin chicks must be near to leaving the nest.

FEEDING FRENZY

The great tit chicks are growing fast, as all eight are being fed at regular intervals by both parents with all sorts of food.

I put a few mealworms out this evening and the great tits, robins and blackbirds were on them within seconds of me putting them out.

The first great tit chick had eaten a mealworm less than a minute later, although one parent still found other food while the other swooped on the mealworm feast.

Below is a two minute video showing some of the feeding action this evening.

What amazes me about the footage was the way the chicks ate the food, then upturned themselves to 'deliver' the parent feeder, a fecal sac; the parent also waiting until the sac appears.

They are still blind and just 4.5 days old, but possibly only another 10 days from leaving the nest!

But tonight they'll be sleeping covered and kept warm by the female.

SUNSHINE & SHOWERS

A typical April day in May, failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the parent great tits as they continued to feed the eight hungry mouths in their nestbox.

Every so often, more in the morning and evening, the female would incubate the young while the male would gather food of various kinds.

Mealworms, caterpillars, insects and spiders were brought in today and the chicks are certainly showing signs of growing.

They're now asleep and being kept warm by the female.


In other news the robin, blackbird and dunnock parents are busy raising their broods, although I've still not seen any blue tits about the garden.

Other birds singing around include the swallows, chiffchaffs, goldfinches and wrens.

Finally the frog has welcomed the rain today, although a lot more is needed to fill the pond back to full.

POOP & SCOOP

The great tit chicks are growing by the hour as their parents bring them hoards of insects, caterpillars and other small creepy crawlies.

I've watched as various green caterpillars are brought in to the chicks, along with the mealworms I'm supplying in small numbers.

The female is very meticulous about cleaning the nest, spending minutes at a time shifting the chicks about and removing an parasites or unwanted dirt. The video was recorded while my own daughter was having a tantrum so please excuse the audio!

I'm learning so much about the activity inside a used nestbox, including about how old the chicks are before they allow the parents to remove their poo sacs from the nest.

I watched one chick being fed today, then immediately turning upside down and showing a fecal sac for the parent to take away. This is even more remarkable as the chicks are still blind.

The warm and wet weather is good in many ways for the chicks, although the parents are sometimes looking a little wet.

I'm hoping there's enough food to feed the chicks as the battle is on for survival.

The frog is still occupying an ever decreasing pond, although the rain so far this weekend is filling it up a little bit.

The swallows are in full voice, while the blackbirds are feeding the newly fledged chicks and I'm trying to find out exactly where the robin and dunnock parents have nested and are feeding their chicks.

With the feeding of chicks season well underway, a witnessed a dunnock chasing a blackbird off a mealworm.

A fun time for wildlife fans, but nerve wracking for parents and those who watch the youngsters struggle for survival.

EIGHT IN THE BED

And the little one said, "can have that caterpillar please."

Ok I made that up, but it's what the smallest chick could be saying.

All eight eggs have hatched and the parents are obviously feeding them well as they all seem healthy.

Due to a long day and spending this evening with my only offspring after she came home after a few days away, I've not spent much time looking at the chicks.

As the thunder booms overhead the female great tit is nestling on the chicks and keeping them warm during the night.

Over the weekend I hope to get lots of video and images of the chicks and note how often the parents feed them and with what food.

Until then I hope they have a good night of sleep, just like my daughter!

BREAKTHROUGH

Two weeks and three days after the first eggs appeared, the great tits awoke this morning to six chicks!

I was very excited at 6.30am when I managed to see the chicks, who were minutes old.

The female was trying to feed them a spider, but it appeared to still be alive and was putting up a fight as the chicks struggled with their first feed.

To help the parents I have a supply of mealworms for them to feed the chicks, although I think there will be lots of caterpillars given the rain and humid weather.

The female is still incubating the final two eggs and keeping the chicks warm so glimpses of the chicks are few and far between.

But luckily not long after I looked this morning, I managed to capture this video. Enjoy until tomorrow's update.

A FLEDGING

Still no update on the great tit eggs, despite the female's best incubating skills and continued stay in the nestbox.

There has been good news today on the form of the blackbird chicks from an historical nest next door, fledging.

As the parents successfully brought up two broods last year, and possibly previous years, I'm hopeful of seeing another fledging of blackbird chicks later in the summer.

The bush isn't located in somewhere people would generally look for a nest as it's fairly small, low to the ground, borders the lane and it within 10 foot of the front door.

As the parents spend a lot of time in my garden, it was no surprise that the male blackbird feeding two of the youngsters first thing this morning and this evening when I arrived home.



The frog is still occupying the pond, although I'm not sure what he/she is doing. I'm sure it's too late for mating and frogspawn, although maybe it is resting after an exhausting mating in the nearby bigger pond.

More updates on Friday, when the anticipated rain could bring a bit of colour to the garden.

NO CRACKS YET

The female great tit is still incubating the eight eggs and there appears to be no change in her agitated behaviour; as if the eggs are overdue.

I've seen all eight eggs this evening and didn't see any cracks to indicate an imminent hatching.

If the eggs are hatching by Friday I fear for the would-be parents as it'll be nearly three weeks since they were laid.

In other news the frog appears to have taken up permanent residence in the pond, despite the water levels in the pond dropping rapidly in the continuing warm weather.

I'm hoping by the weekend, rain will refill the pond & also water the rest of the garden.

Here's hoping the morning will bring news of the first arrival.

ANY DAY NOW

I've been keeping a close eye on the nestbox over the weekend and the female appears to be getting very agitated while sitting on the eggs.

I expect she's like any expectant parent, eagerly looking forward to seeing her young, but also to spend a bit more time outside.

The eggs are turned over at regular intervals to ensure they all are at the right temperature - how she knows I'm not sure as there's no thermometer! The picture below was taken while the female had five minutes enjoying the good weather.


The male has been very attentive, bringing in food for the female and probably to see exactly what's going on.

It's been two weeks since the first four eggs were laid, so I'm tuning in every hour to make sure I don't miss that first chick. The incubation period is 13-15 days, so it can't be too long.

My mealworm supply is ready and waiting, so when the chicks hatch, the parents have a helping hand in the first crucial days.

I have noticed some caterpillars on surrounding trees, although can't tell if there are plenty to go around for all the birds who rely on them to feed their young.

I'm still concerned about the blue tits, as they appear to be setting up home elsewhere. There's still hope of them using another nestbox in my garden or even next door's hole in the wall, like last year.

Right I'm off to have another look, perhaps tomorrow will bring some positive news.