Hi,
A friend of mine has a nest box and camera with a Blue Tit sitting on 3 eggs that were laid on the 4th April.
I've followed Blue Tits for years on our own nest box cam so I know that not only is 3 eggs very unusual but for them not to have hatched after 2 months is clearly wrong.
The question I have is, should my friend remove the eggs ?
I'm aware of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the damage and/or removal of nests and eggs etc. but in this scenario, where you can prove that there is clearly a problem with the eggs, would it be in the best interest of the female Blue Tit if the eggs were removed so she then abandoned the nest ?
I know that sounds heartless but is 2 months of incubating eggs that'll never hatch detrimental to her well being as it makes me wonder how long she'll keep sitting there.
Many thanks for your advice.
A friend of mine has a nest box and camera with a Blue Tit sitting on 3 eggs that were laid on the 4th April.
I've followed Blue Tits for years on our own nest box cam so I know that not only is 3 eggs very unusual but for them not to have hatched after 2 months is clearly wrong.
The question I have is, should my friend remove the eggs ?
I'm aware of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the damage and/or removal of nests and eggs etc. but in this scenario, where you can prove that there is clearly a problem with the eggs, would it be in the best interest of the female Blue Tit if the eggs were removed so she then abandoned the nest ?
I know that sounds heartless but is 2 months of incubating eggs that'll never hatch detrimental to her well being as it makes me wonder how long she'll keep sitting there.
Many thanks for your advice.
