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[CLKD]

5.15 and it's still light  ……...

[ellie]

We have Blue Tits taking moss etc into the bird box, very early isn't it??

[CLKD]

Nope.

We had a lady locally who took in dog fur for spinning and knitting with …….. she owned Old English Sheepdogs and other large hairy breeds over the years ……… haven't seen her for a while though 

[purplenanny]

RSPB said late March but mine are very busy 
PN x x

[CLKD]

Sometimes they begin building in several places …… I think a spell of warmer weather triggers something.  Wrens in particular build nests and then see if she likes the situation - surprisingly ours did last year …… as I found out when just about to push my finger in to the nesting material 

[Taz2]

We have Blue Tits taking moss etc into the bird box, very early isn't it??

It is early ellie - the young blue tits have to hatch at the same time that the oak tree moth caterpillers hatch as these are their staple food. If the young hatch before the caterpillars then unfortunately they starve to death as happened, I think, two years ago - although the adults did go on to lay a second brood that year I believe. It was still upsetting to remove six little bodies from the nest box though. http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/families/children/learn/earlyyears/stories/caterpillar.aspx

Taz x

[CLKD]

>wave< Taz ……… I over-ordered meal worms yesterday  so any early nesters should be OK here - either that or we need a really cold spell.

[Taz2]

Do you feed live ones CLKD?

Taz x

[Dorothy]

Do you feed live ones CLKD?

Taz x

Oh dear, meno brain very bad today...I've just been trying to work out why anyone would provide food for dead birds...

[CLKD]

Yep.  Buy them from a Company who supplies to the pet reptile trade.  There are loads  ……. I ought to have realised that I had ordered too many when she told me the cost  hey ho!

[Taz2]

Do you feed live ones CLKD?

Taz x

Oh dear, meno brain very bad today...I've just been trying to work out why anyone would provide food for dead birds...

 

Just wondered how long you soak them for before putting them out for nestlings? I now you have to make sure that they are really pliable and have absorbed enough water for the youngsters as they get all of their moisture from their food while still in the nest but not sure how long that takes?

Taz x

[CLKD]

Don't need to soak live meal worms.  Nor the dried, I have never seen parents taking dried to the nest/nestlings.  Nor have I seen young birds taking whole peanuts, they peck as taught by the parents which I was privileged to watch one Summer 

Frogs don't like meal worms though  ………

this morning we have tits, lots of blackbirds, a wren singing, 2 robins; 2 magpies, a collared dove …….. DH saw a yellow hammer, always a sign of cold weather coming

[CLKD]

A fossil on display in a Museum   -    thought to be 'plastic' - has been found to be real  ……. and it's last meal can be seen ……. an ichiothorus [sp] …… like a dolphin : named     'anningay' ………..

[CLKD]

We have a baby goldfish in our top pond …….. such a lovely surprise as the heron paid a visit in May and took 25  …….. some had belonged to M in L too …… but we have a BABY 

[Taz2]

 

As to mealworms. If you are putting dried mealworms out for the bluetit nestlings who may hatch too early for their staple food of Oak Tree Moth caterpillars then they do have to be soaked first. The nestling gets all of its moisture from its food (caterpillars) and dried mealworms though satisfying the hunger will lead to it dying of dehydration apparently.

Taz x