Ready for take-off?

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This video shows how fast the chicks are developing. This fellow is beating his wings like he's ready to take off!

It seems that there are only three chicks in the nest. I'm not sure what's happened to the rest yet. There are three possibilities:

1)    The chicks have died from natural causes and the parents have disposed of them or left them at the bottom of the nest.
2)    Predators have taken them from the nest. Magpies or cats would be the main suspects. I find this unlikely because the nest is still in tact.
3)    The chicks have been culled because there were just too many mouths to feed. The cold and wet weather we have experienced may have contributed to the lack of food.

After researching Blue Tits I discovered that they lay their eggs only when they know that certain food items will be available. The main source is a certain moth caterpillar that is found around oak trees. Each chick can consume up to 100 of these caterpillars per day. With nine chicks that would be 900 caterpillars to be found every day. This diet would be supplemented with other food but this might not be as nourishing as the caterpillars.

I will only find out properly when I am able to get into the nest and check it out. This won't be until July though. Let's just hope these three can make it to fledging.




 

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