|
BBC Homepage | |||
Contact Us | |||
Nature FeaturesYou are in: Wiltshire > Nature > Nature Features > WATCH LIVE: Bringing up baby... Blue Tits ![]() WATCH LIVE: Bringing up baby... Blue TitsThey need to be fed every 15 minutes, taught to peck and to fly... and the job has fallen to Dave.
On Saturday May 17th, at 9:00pm, the blue tit mother left the nest box in Cricklade for the last time and a nest of chicks just days old. ![]() The original nest of eight eggs For Dave Charles, the owner of the 25-year-old home-made nesting box, there was only one thing to be done... adopt. "This is about the 20th year we've successfully had an active nest in 25 years," says Dave Charles, "but it's my first year with a webcam added into the nesting box. "They first started showing an interest in the box at the end of March. She roosted in the box for the first night on 11th April and the first egg was laid overnight just 12 days later. ![]() The first blue tit to hatch.... "Then eight more followed, one per night, making a total of nine. But sadly she removed three for some reason and left the nest with six." With a slightly less then average clutch size, the average is between 7 and 13 eggs, the incubation period of 14 days began with the blue tit hatchlings beginning to emerge mid-May: "The first one hatched just after 3:30pm on 12th May," says Dave, "followed by the other four all in the same day." Help playing audio/video ![]() Five down one to go Dave the surrogate mumBut just five days after hatching, on Friday May 17th, Dave noticed that the blue tit mother appeared restless: "She left the nest at about 5:00 am, on Saturday morning, came back but then left again for good at 9:00 am," says Dave. "They don't normally leave the nest for longer then an hour, maximum. "So, I'm sorry to have to say that we have not only lost the mother but also the oldest chick. It was the biggest and the healthiest one. With five chicks remaining it was left to the male blue tit to feed the brood: ![]() The mother before her death... "The father got into the swing of things feeding them throughout the day," says Dave, "but at a very slow pace. And, unlike the mother, he doesn't groom them or roost in the box with them overnight." So at 8:00pm, on Saturday night, Dave decided to step in and bring the nest box indoors to feed and keep them warm: "They are feeding very well on mealworms from me," says Dave. "I've been feeding them every 15 minutes, for the last 32 hours, on de-headed mealworms. They have to be de-headed prior to feeding as they're likely to eat their way out." "They're also on a heat pad and in a polystyrene box to help keep them warm." It takes just 19 days for blue tit chicks to fledge but chicks fed by hand can take up to six weeks: ![]() The abandoned chicks.... "If all goes well," says Dave, "I'll not only have to teach them how to peck but how to fly as well. "I'm going to need to get an aviary because I'm going all the way." And you can follow the progress of the Blue Tit chicks live 24/7 and Dave.... by clicking on the link below:The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites last updated: 22/05/2008 at 15:49 Have Your SayAnd if you've got any advice or help for Dave or a portable aviary... we want to hear from you... get in touch by filling out the form below: rob pearson Lucy Daisy brimsted daisy dessieh@eircom.net Felicity allen.woods a random person braders Alex vicki Kristie sue caroline Kyle Louise Austen Annette Smith ginett chloe Janis ?????????????? Alexandria Rachel Jay Anne (France) hannah Sarah ian craftieSandi [from Australia] louise wilkinson Kierson Anne (from Somerset) Ella Sturgess Dave Charles Jay Willsy Tosh from Liverpool Anne (from Somerset) Adele Rosedbud john.curry52.fsnet.co.uk Janet Attwood Anne liz Carole Bev from Somerset Adele jen Carole/Illinois blakpooldave sylvia from athens greece anne Eddie Claire Allanah Sally Marilyn Dave Charles Dave Charles verity Anne Anne Dave Charles Marilyn Teresa Lynn mandajanie Dee Brown.Dilton Marsh, Wilts James Harrison john Dave Charles Dave Charles Cher Anita Dave Charles Allanah Jason Jackie Challis Eunice Warinngton carol trudi Merrylin Merrylin Alan Plumb SEE ALSOYou are in: Wiltshire > Nature > Nature Features > WATCH LIVE: Bringing up baby... Blue Tits |
About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy |