Bluetit Diary    Apr 2008 (3)

 

 

Monday 7th April, 2008

Sally doesn't look very welcoming to me in this image, but then I'm not a male bluetit!

In fact, Joe has some food for Sally and this is definitely a "Yes please!" posture.

Whatever it is, it's fairly small, but Joe passes it to Sally quickly enough.  (Sometimes male bluetits seem strangely reluctant to pass over the food they have brought into the nest box.)

See how Sally spreads her wings slightly in adopting a begging posture.

The final moment when the food passes from Joe to Sally.

"Was that it?"

Joe needs to have plenty of practice.  He will be expected to feed Sally and the chicks hundreds of times during the coming weeks!

Gelda needs to be on her guard.  Having put on the larger hole plate to let Gelda and Phil into the box, I feel guilty about the fact that the bluetit pair they displaced still have not found a home for their chicks.

A couple of minutes later, they are still there though they haven't plucked up the courage to enter the box.

Thirty seconds later, the female has left and the male is looking apprehensively over his shoulder.

And this is why!  Gelda has eventually woken up to the fact that the bluetits are still after her nest box and has come charging back to defend it.

She must keep up her guard!