Two chicks left Box1 yesterday, one first thing in the morning and the other at nearly 8.20pm.
We switched on earlier than usual today to make sure that we could capture images of any early leavers. It was just as well as all the remaining chicks had fledged by half past six!
At ten past six all the remaining four chicks were still in the nest box.
Dad (Paul) comes in with some food.
When he leaves, all the chicks look hopefully at the hole. Presumably they are waiting for more food!
One of the chicks exercises its wings again.
Finally, it flies up to the hole ...
... and is on its way!
Here it is having a good look outside.
Away it goes!
(Chick 3)
Paul with food for the remaining three chicks.
And again, three minutes later.
Then the next chick looks outside. The other two don't want to know.
Here's the chick as seen from the outside. You can see its feet clinging onto the edge of the hole.
Suddenly its no longer visible. We've missed it!
(Chick 4)
Two chicks to go.
"You or me first?"
The one nearer the hole jumps up to look out.
Here it is from the outside.
Going, going ...
... gone!
Again the outside camera missed it!
(Chick 5)
One chick left.
Remember, this is the most timid and probably the least developed chick. A chick that does not push to the front for food gets less that its more aggressive siblings!
We have often had long delays before the last chick can be coaxed to leave the nest box.
Not this time!
Less than 10 seconds after the previous chick fledged, the last chick flew up to the hole.
But it was just too much to contemplate.
What to do?
"Can I do it?"
Again, it flew up to the hole and looked out.
Again it found it just too much!
Third time lucky?
It's quite a long way out this time!
Will it go this time?
Yes!!
(Chick 6)
(I'm glad we caught a shot of the last chick leaving!)
As usual, a parent (this time Paul) came back to the box to check whether all the chicks had fledged. They had!
Automatically, Paul picked up some poo that was produced by the last chick before it left the box, and removed it.
The box is quiet again for the first time for several months.
That's it for 2015 folks!