The life and times of a Kentish Blue Tit!

A blue tit took up residence in my Big Brother Bird Box on Sunday 25th March and built a nest over the following two weeks. Friday 6th April (Good Friday) saw her spend her first night in the box. She then spent a few more days collecting feathers to line the nest cup with and once it was to her satisfaction, between 12th and 20th April, she laid nine eggs. Six hatched on 2 May, two more on 3 May and the last one (whom we nick-named "Midge") hatched on Friday 4th May. Dad became visible as soon as the first eggs hatched and was very enthusiastic, bringing food for mother and kids as often as he could. So far, so good.....

The hatchlings were all doing well until a week later when Midge suddenly weakened and died, quickly followed by two more. The six that were left put on quite a growth spurt over the following week but then, much to our horror, two more died. With only four left, I left the house on the morning of the 20th May (fledging day by my calculations) quite concerned about their chances. I came home that day to an empty box, but sadly with yet another dead body in it.

However, the remaining three are all doing well and are regular visitors to my feeders in the garden, along with the rather tatty-looking parents. It was sad to lose six, but it's nature's way after all - just hard for us to observe. Follow their story below (warning  - occasional glimpses of dead chicks in last few photographs and movies).

Click on the pic below for still pictures...

Or click on You Tube 

or the pic below for short moving clips.