Great Tit Nestbox on Saaremaa 2020

[IceAge]

It is obviously still very cold. The chicks cuddle up close together.


Let's see what's out there.

[IceAge]

The chicks are busy practising for the big day.

Mum, her chicks and a lot of insects .

[IceAge]

May 23.

Good morning,
is today the big day for the chicks?

[IceAge]

The parents come less often now because they want to lure the chicks out of the box.
The adults often just fly to the flight hole without feeding.

Feeding

[IceAge]

All seven chicks are still here.


Mum warms her chicks.

[IceAge]

May 24.

Good morning,



Feeding


Female cleans the box.

[IceAge]

...and tomorrow is a new day...to fledge .


The first night without mum.

[IceAge]

May 25.

Good morning,



When the first chick has fledged, the others will follow.

[IceAge]

Crowded at the flight hole.


I can understand the little ones, the box is warm and safe.


The last night? The last night? We'll see.

[IceAge]

May 26.

Good morning,

[IceAge]

Female cleans the box.





seven chicks

[IceAge]

May 27.

Good morning,

the big day for our starling chicks has arrived. Four chicks have already fledged.


07:23
Number 5 dares to fly.
There are only two left.

[IceAge]

The two youngest still need to rest.

It looks like a heart.


Mum comes and cleans the box. Perhaps she also wants to give you some courage.


Dad takes a look too.

[IceAge]

The two always take turns.

09:49
Number six is also gone.

The last chick is being lured.


It sits in the window.


It is particularly difficult for the last chick to leave the nest.

[IceAge]

15:50
feeding

[asteria]

Where did the eighth (foreign) egg come from? Somehow I missed it.

[IceAge]

Hello asteria,
the strange egg was secretly laid in the nest. Unfortunately, nobody saw it. It was removed by the adults after the chicks hatched.

The last chick will spend another night in the nest and fly out early tomorrow.



Perhaps the last photo...

[IceAge]

May 28.

Good morning,

feeding


The parents try to get the little one out of the nest.

[IceAge]

08:44
the chick takes a nap.

hungry...The chicks can become aggressive towards their parents.


The chick is not yet ready to fly out.

[Bee18]

The last chick is still in the nest , its quite worrying, looks like its going to spend another night in the box, alone
C'mon little one, you can do it!