Bluetit Diary    May 2008 (21)

 

 

Thursday 29th May, 2008

There is still no sign of Ken this morning, but two of the chicks are still OK.  Here they are being squeezed out of the nest cup by Freda who is doing some housework at the bottom of the nest.

I'll bet they are very hungry though!

It is now eight thirty and Freda has left the nest for the first time since we switched on.  Two gapes can still be seen.

No sign of Ken though.

Oh dear!  Freda is having to remove another dead chick from the nest.  That theoretically leaves three!

There are still 2 persistent gapes here though - we mustn't give up on them too soon!

I wish Ken would turn up again!

Four hours have passed and there has still been no sign of Ken all morning. 

Another ominous sign, whenever Freda goes out of the nest box we get numerous flies buzzing around - perhaps there is another dead body there somewhere.

There are still two hungry chicks here!

At the end of the day, at least one chick is still alive.  Freda has been out hunting for food fairly often but clearly not often enough to keep two chicks well fed and warm at the same time.

Of Ken there has been no sign all day.

Freda has settled down for the night as usual, but it difficult to see how any of these chicks can survive without Ken.