Bluetit Diary    Jun 2002 (7)

The picture on the left shows the four chicks begging for food from Victor.  It is interesting to note that the parents kept visiting and feeding the chicks remaining in the box until the last one had flown.

5.55am 

"What's he up to?  He keeps looking out of the box.  He's not going to disappear like Fred did is he?"

6.40am

"Now what's wrong with you lot?  Fred's doing fine.  Pull yourselves together and come outside!" says Battler.

6.46am

This is a picture from a rather interesting sequence.  Victor had brought in some food but seemed strangely reluctant to let go of it.  Several times, even when he actually let go, he grabbed it back again and offered it to another chick.  On one occasion, he appeared to leave the nest for about 10 seconds, still holding onto the food.

Eventually, he weakened and let go.  We could not see what it was.  It was fairly small, similar in length to a chick's beak, and was white in colour.  It must have been fairly robust physically as it took a fair amount of tugging.  Could it have been a piece of peanut?

6.58am

At last one of the chicks begins to realise that it is getting serious and starts to get some exercise!  The others appear to be hoping that this thing will go away if they ignore it.

Shortly after, at 7 o'clock, one chick went immediately followed by another.

7.03am

These two birds were distraught after their brothers (or sisters) had left.  They clearly didn't want to go at all.

7.10am

They look as though they have made a pact.   "We're staying put and that's final!!"

This soon broke down and it became clear that one chick may have been frightened of leaving- but the other was terrified!

7.24am

One chick seems determined to hide - and the only place he could think of hiding was underneath his brother!  For some time, one chick kept following the other around trying to hide beneath him.

The last but one chick flew at 7.25am

7.27am

"Now look here lad....."

This was Victor's last visit.  It seemed to do the trick!

7.28am

The last shot of a chick (just) in the nest!

7.29am

That's it for this year!!