Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
On noticing unusual behaviour in our breeding Pied Flycatchers, we decided to check the nest today. We found several cold eggs and though the male has been constantly singing, there has been none of the usual coming and going to feed young and the female has hardly been seen at all.
The last 2 years they've fledged on 20th June so what's happened?
An inexperienced female, lack of food for the adults during a pretty cold spell leading to abandonment? I know some birds can delay incubation during cold spells but I think they've given up this year sadly.
One mystery remains however, last week I saw the female at the nest delivering food and was certain I heard young. There's no chance of predation at our box but it's too early for young to have fledged so what's happened?
If young perish in the nest, do the adults remove them?
Closer inspection has found a larger than average clutch of 8 eggs and reading 'The Pied Flycatcher' Lundberg and Alatalo, predation of the female seems the most likely reason or she abandoned through the male failing to feed her as she sat?
Andy
The last 2 years they've fledged on 20th June so what's happened?
An inexperienced female, lack of food for the adults during a pretty cold spell leading to abandonment? I know some birds can delay incubation during cold spells but I think they've given up this year sadly.
One mystery remains however, last week I saw the female at the nest delivering food and was certain I heard young. There's no chance of predation at our box but it's too early for young to have fledged so what's happened?
If young perish in the nest, do the adults remove them?
Closer inspection has found a larger than average clutch of 8 eggs and reading 'The Pied Flycatcher' Lundberg and Alatalo, predation of the female seems the most likely reason or she abandoned through the male failing to feed her as she sat?
Andy
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