This morning, we had a quick look at Fluffy's nest, and saw her cuddled down as usual. We then turned to Fantail,
and as is normal, stayed there until the afternoon. In fact we were a bit later than usual and didn't switch
to Fluffy's box until about 3pm. Again, Fluffy was cuddled down as before - but a few minutes later, she left the
nest, revealing three chicks and two eggs! We had been wondering if she would have a successful nest, because she
has been going out so frequently, and Flash did not visit her very often either.
This is our first glimpse of the chicks. Here you can just make out the three chicks.
Flash is quickly becoming aware of his new responsibilities. He has been bringing in tiny morsels of food very
frequently; these he passes to Fluffy to feed to the chicks, and departs promptly to look for more. However on one
occasion when we were watching "live" on the TV, he came in with a little offering, and instead of Fluffy taking it
from where she was, she levered herself out of the (now rather deep) nest cup, and stood on the edge, fluttering her
wings gently and cheeping persistently over the chicks, apparently trying to persuade the chicks to take the food
from Flash. (Or perhaps trying to persuade Flash to give it to her?) If it was the former, she finally had to admit
defeat, and took the food and fed a chick herself as Flash departed.
Could this have been her way of trying to bond Flash with the chicks? The next time he came, she remained in
the nest cup, and took the food directly herself.
This time, Fluffy was not in the nest when Flash arrived, so he fed the chicks himself - apparently successfully!
Here is the more common situation. Flash gives his tit-bit to Fluffy, who then feeds the chicks herself when Flash has gone.
