Feeding on a Sunny Friday Afternoon

when the sun shines, this second camera seems to be able to in part function as a colour camera...



I will have to find another solution for next year however, as it is not quite the level of colour I was hoping for!

Feathers...

As the second lot of hatchlings grow...the cycle repeats itself with precision...



...clockwork...

Videos of Hatchlings Last Day in Box #1

General agitation in nest:



Feeding by both mother and father birds:



Hatchlings 1-6 leave nest:

Hatchling 7

Number 6!

Mother and Father

Removal of Nest (Box #1)

Last night I opened nesting box #1 and removed the nest. I obviously examined it as I was curious to know exactly how many eggs had hatched. To my surprise and sadness, I found only one egg. This means that of 11 eggs, 10 hatched and 3 hatchlings died. I had noticed 2 but not 3. I also found a very dry dead hatchling in the nest which I removed and buried.

I must say it was not pleasant in the least, both visually as well as in terms of odour.

I then threw the nest away and cleaned and disinfected (clearly necessary for a number of reasons including the need to kill off any flees which might otherwise have developed and procreated so much as to infest a potential next nest and kill the hatchlings) the nesting box, left it open (the front of the box can be removed in the models I use) overnight to dry and closed it this morning just in case....

Fifth Hatchling

3:44 am this morning...

Fourth Hatchling!

Third Hatchling!

Quick Update!

Last night, at ca. 20:45 all 7 hatchlings left the nest (nesting box #1), this morning at ca. 6:30 2 eggs hatched in nesting box #2.



Mother and father are now busy keeping them warm and feeding them.



I will post images and videos of nesting box #1 soon!

Aaaah...the wonders of nature and life!