What happened to 3 day old robin redbreast nestlings?

Kittycat000

6 healthy robin redbreast chicks hatched 3 days ago in my small greenhouse. The nest was on a ledge about a metre and a half off the ground. Robin mom was usually there in the nest with them, except for when she was out in the garden looking for food.

I peeked my head in the greenhouse a few times throughout the day they hatched and saw that all was good. Didn't get to see them yesterday as I was in a different county. I come home today and go to take a peek and.... No robin chicks and no robin mom!?!? Nest appears undisturbed. No signs of carcasses etc... Just completely vanished without a trace.

The ledge where the nest is is not accessible to cats.. And even if it was you would assume cats would leave a few remains. But there is absolutely nothing? There is no wind in the greenhouse that could have knocked them out of the nest. I checked all over the greenhouse for any signs of them and nothing.

What happened to the robin nestlings? I am totally devastated as it was a rare sight to see in my garden and I was hoping to document their journey from nestling to fledging with my camera. Very sad Any idea what may have happened?

looksee

Rat?

Kittycat000

looksee wrote: »

Rat?

Yeah my father said it was probably a rat/rats

Would a single rat have taken them one by one? I would of never taught rats would eat baby birds... But according to the internet they will eat absolutely anything... Poor chicks

corcaigh1

looksee wrote: »

Rat?

Maybe I am missing something here but if the ledge was not accessible to cats how was it accessible to a rat?

Kittycat000

corcaigh1 wrote: »

Maybe I am missing something here but if the ledge was not accessible to cats how was it accessible to a rat?

It would most certainly be accessible for a rat. Hard to explain unless I included pictures.. There's plenty for a little rat to climb up to reach the edge and maneuver through.. Not for a cat

looksee

Rats can access pretty much anything they want to access. They climb, for one thing, rather than jumping as cats do.

corcaigh1

Kittycat000 wrote: »

It would most certainly be accessible for a rat. Hard to explain unless I included pictures.. There's plenty for a little rat to climb up to reach the edge and maneuver through.. Not for a cat

Of course...silly me, size difference of course and the fact they can squeeze through small gaps etc and climb as below!!

looksee wrote: »

Rats can access pretty much anything they want to access. They climb, for one thing, rather than jumping as cats do.

I didnt realise that the pests climb also as seen in this youtube clip! jaysus!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsrBdnZghJM

looksee

Oh, erk. Rats climbing a concrete block wall is one thing, but shinning up that metal pipe!! That is making my skin crawl!

Magpie?

Kittycat000

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Magpie?

A magpie wouldn't be able to access the greenhouse. Pretty sure at this stage it was probably a rat

Hocus Focus

looksee wrote: »

Oh, erk. Rats climbing a concrete block wall is one thing, but shinning up that metal pipe!! That is making my skin crawl!

Are you sure that's a rat?. Looks more like a mouse to me, body about three inches long, ears are upright....

Knine

A rat or a mouse is probably the culprit. Rat being most likely.