Nestwatch - Blue Tit Cam

Trotter

Hi all,

With the robins having departed, Ive got 30 of the primary school children I teach obsessed with the camera in the blue tit nest.

Sorry to the mods if theres already a discussion thread on the blue tits going.

Just wondering, we've noticed in the past couple of days that the male doesnt seem to be going in to feed the mother as much as I've seen in previous years. Is it normal that maybe the male is feeding the female outside the nest on her visits outside?

Trotter

4 hatched today! 3 eggs to go. Fingers crossed they'll all hatch.

Jinxi

I only see 4 babies and 2 eggs. What happened? And does anyone know how long before they begin to feed them?

Trotter

Jinxi wrote: »

I only see 4 babies and 2 eggs. What happened? And does anyone know how long before they begin to feed them?

I could see the female feeding the ones that had hatched straight away this afternoon. Amazing to see them opening their mouths looking for food, only a few hours after coming out of their eggs!

littlebug

It's amazing how quickly they've grown. They're ready to fledge any day now. http://www.rte.ie/radio/mooneygoeswild/features/mooneycam/bluetitcam.html

Kess73

Very close to the time when they leave the box. A few of them have taken to jumping up to the entrance hole and peeking out.

Trotter

A fly just went into the box and they all went mental trying to catch it

littlemissteach

Does anyone know if the nestlings are more likely to fledge during morning, afternoon or night??Or is it just totally random??!!I'm watching it round the clock, would love to catch a glimpse of one fledging...it's so addictive!:)

Yea, I'm afraid I'm going to log in tomorrow morning to find them gone!!! How sad am I? I think they usually leave the nest early in the morning when the time comes to go. They are so cute, - its a pity we cant have a view of the outside of the box in order to see them spread their little wings and head into the great blue yonder.:)

Kess73

Just watching them sleeping in the nest now. All huddled together and snoozing. It is a little sad if you conside that if they fledge tomorrow, that tonight will be the last time they will every have that communal warmth and safety.

Trotter

Its great though that all 7 have made it this far. Its good for the species for so many to be ready to fledge.

Mothman

7.30 am
They're still in the box

Yup, - still there!

Kess73

Is it just me, or has anyone else only counted six chicks this morning?

There was defo seven last night.

Seems to be a bit of wing testing and stretching going on.

Mothman

I counted 7 earlier.
Is there one hiding in mid back left?

EDIT Just now, when the one went to top, 6 could be counted below

Kess73

Yep spotted that the seven were still there when one was hanging onto the side of the box.

Not long to go before they start to file out methinks.

Mothman

Looks a bit lifeless though...?

doesn't seem to be moving, only 6 heads raising when parent comes in.

Kess73

number 7s little head is back to moving about again


Some serious wing stretching going on with what seems to be the biggest chick.

Yea, - there seems to be one smaller and weaker than the others, - it appears to lose out on the feeding every time.

Mothman

Took a bit of time out.
The 7 showing well now.

littlebug

The little one does seem to miss out on the food. I hope he makes it after getting this far.

littlemissteach

It's getting so exciting!!they keep flapping about!!

Mothman

All 7 still in there. I think an early start bank holiday Monday if you want to see them leave

Kess73

Am surprised that they did not go today. There were a few moments where I thought "This is it", but nowt happened.

Mind you, the day is not done yet, and the Robin cam showed how late in the day birds will fledge. Think it was after 21:30 when the young robins left the nest box, so there still is time for them to jump ship today, but it does seem more likely that tomorrow will be the day.

I just hope the weather holds for them whenever they do it.

Mothman

I see 6, i assume the 7th is still there as well.

Tell them to get out soon, it may be a wet aftewrnoon.

littlemissteach

the nest looks kind of empty-did some of them go flap flap this morning or are they all tucked up in there still??

littlemissteach

ok just seen 6 mouths open for feeding- perhaps the bigger one flew away this morning?Did anyone catch that?


Edit-just seen all 7 feeding now!

I was sure they'd be gone this morning! The parents look a bit shattered, - they look like I feel after a long bank holiday weekend when all my kids come home to roost with their partners, - all that shopping and cooking and cleaning the bathroom! Still, I bet they'll miss them when they're gone

littlebug

Jeez are these kids EVER going to leave home?

Kess73

One had jumped up and was looking out the hole a few minutes ago.

Trotter

If I looked out of my warm little box and saw that weather, Id stay and wait for my mother to feed me too!

Kess73

He/she was up and clinging to the top of the box again.

Kess73

Now has gone up to the hole and is looking outside.

Kess73

And jumps back down again.

Kess73

and jumps back up again.




Looks like this little fella has itchy feet and wants to see the outside world soon.

If you miss seeing them leaving the nest is it possible to replay the coverage? You cant be watching all the time and it's a shame not to witness the big moment after all these weeks!

Kess73

inthehat wrote: »

If you miss seeing them leaving the nest is it possible to replay the coverage? You cant be watching all the time and it's a shame not to witness the big moment after all these weeks!

I don't think so. RTE in their infinite wisdom do not seem to be recording the footage.

So it will be like the young robins in the other nest box. Either you get lucky and are watching when they leave or you get to see nothing.

sqlpod

pity the small guys at the back though

nomdeboardie

Kess73 wrote: »

I don't think so. RTE in their infinite wisdom do not seem to be recording the footage.

So it will be like the young robins in the other nest box. Either you get lucky and are watching when they leave or you get to see nothing.

Yes, I got no answer to an email query re that for the robins. I also mentioned it would nice to have a view of the outside of the boxes.

Trotter

I think they must underestimate the number of people who are keeping an eye on the chicks. It makes no sense that they wouldnt record the last 24 hours or so. It cant be that huge of a technological effort?

Still no sign of action. Both parents still feeding the chicks in the box.

sqlpod

I think your'e right, they underestimated the amazing interest it is generating, hopefully they will take this on board and and add a couple more features next year, i agree an external cam and replay with volume ?

Kess73

The blue tits may not have fledged as of yet today, but the coal tits in my garden have being doing so over the last hour. Five little balls of fluff have emerged and have been busy cheeping to be fed.

Trotter

Excellent Ive had a nestbox out for 2 years in a couple of different places but no takers yet.

Kess73

Trotter wrote: »

Excellent Ive had a nestbox out for 2 years in a couple of different places but no takers yet.

This year in the garden I have had dunnocks, robins, great tit, greenfinch, starling (spit), and now Coal tit fledge. I have a pair of wren who have a nest in the garden, but have not seen any young wren, but they could be there as well.

I have also had young blackbird, chaffinch, redpoll, goldcrest, and various corvids so far this year.


I know the female sparrowhawk is sitting at the moment, so I am expecting to see her little killers fledge somewhere around the middle two weeks of July.

With your nest box,if you have not already done so, make sure that they are out of direct sunlight as much as possible. That they are ideally north facing, and with plenty of cover. And not too close to one another and as far away from any feeders or feeding areas you have.

Nest boxes can be funny things, sometimes you can get lucky and have a bird use it the first spring you have it out, other times the box can sit for years without use.

sqlpod

Wonderful, we are trying to turn our garden into a haven for Birds and insect,s this year so as to attract nestings next year, so far only downer our the Cat's yeah we know they have a place as well but give the little ones a CHANCE !!!

Trotter

I live in a housing estate and there's no trees in the garden just yet. I've a few bird feeders up and Ive a resident great tit and some sparrows living close by.

Kess73

Trotter wrote: »

I live in a housing estate and there's no trees in the garden just yet. I've a few bird feeders up and Ive a resident great tit and some sparrows living close by.

Fingers crossed that one of your visitors will decide to use your box at some point.

sqlpod

Getting late to fledge today, shame back to work tommorow..

Kess73

Is it just me or does there seem to be damp coming down from the top fight of the box as you look at it? Is it raining heavy in Dublin now?


Also did anybody notice the inside of the box suddenly getting brighter about twenty minutes ago?

Trotter

I'd say there's heavy rain blowing into the box. No harm anyway.. They're like teenagers refusing to leave the house!

The mother's feathers are soaking. You can see the marks she's leaving on the inside of the box.

sqlpod

Yes, it is getting wet and it does look brighter, and am I wrong but is mummy and daddy popping in and out encouraging them to fledge ?