Bluetit Diary    May 2001 (6)

 

 

Monday 21st May, 2001

The chicks are growing rapidly, and the hen is spending less time in "processing" a mealworm when she collects one from the feeder. The cock still is not using this useful larder, although the great tit is still managing to sneak in there when the hen is not aware of his presence.

 

She continues her excavations inside the nest, as shown in the picture above - the chicks are pushed unceremoniously to one side as she dives down , and we can now hear her tapping on the bottom of the box.  She does this two or three times, around the edge of the nest cup.  The faecal sacs are becoming quite large, and they are now removed, rather than swallowed.