Great Tit Year 2016

Text Margus Ots, Great Tit Year coordinator

Web camera image captured by Shanta, LK forum

While we could see the hatching of the chicks in nest box no.1 on May 16, then the chicks in nest box no. 2 were hatched  on the morning of May 18.

The just hatched chicks need to be kept warm during the first few days, so the female sits on the nest every now and then. The egg shells are partly thrown out of the nest  but a part is eaten by the female to cover her calcium need. In their first days in life the chicks are fed the smallest invertebrates.

Photos and text Margus Ots, Great Tit Year coordinator

Translation Liis

Checking the nest boxes on Friday in Vana-Kuuste in Tartu County it turned out that for the great tits that started nesting first, chicks had hatched. About 3 days old chicks were in the nest where the first egg was laid already on April 16. In addition a chick had just hatched in one nest box and in another nest box there were 1 day old chicks.

Just hatched great tit

Comments by Margus Ots, Great Tit Year coordinator

Video recorded by Olle Koert, www.tt.ee

Translation  Liis

On Tuesday we could observe in the nest box camera (nest box 3) how a wryneck plundered the great tit nest. The video shows the wryneck throwing 10 eggs out of the nest and also part of the nest material

Wryneck        Väänkael         Jynx torquilla

Text and photos  Marko Mägi, marko.magi@ut.ee

Translation Liis

Great tit eggs  

Most tits have already finished their egg-laying. The females sit in the nests, adjust the eggs every now and then and wait for the chicks to hatch. There is not long time left until the first tit chicks appear. On observing the incubation in the nest camera it is possible to see how active a process it is – it is not just sitting in one place but an active ”trampling” procedure which the egg shells bravely have to withstand..

Text  Margus Ots, coordinator of Great Tit Year

Translation Liis

Looking at an incubating great tit in the webcam the question might come up – how can it incubate the eggs through the fluffy plumage? Feathers have a very poor heat transmission capacity after all. To make the body heat reach to the eggs the feathers of the female great tit on the abdomen drop off, and a skin area without plumage is created – the brood patch.  So during the brooding period the eggs come into contact with the skin of the abdomen  that is rich in blood vessels and the heat  needed for the development of the chicks reaches the eggs.

Text  Margus Ots, coordinator of Great Tit Year

Translation Liis

In all three nests with cameras the great tits have finally started laying eggs. In nest box no 1 there were at least 8 eggs already on Sunday, in nest box 2 five eggs and in nest box nr 3 the first egg had been laid:

Images from webcam captured by  Shanta, LK forum

Translation Liis

In the morning at half past six the male brings his mate some ”tidbits“

Great tit        Rasvatihane       Parus major

Soon the incubation period starts and during that time the males feed their mates. We can already see a difference between the nesters in who conceal their eggs, and  how, during daytime.

Science news of the bird of the year conveyed by Marko Mägi, marko.magi@ut.ee

Translation Liis

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Calcium is necessary for the normal functioning of the organism and the development of bones, for birds also for breeding making up the larger part of the egg shell and giving it resilience. Nearly 90% of the calcium in the organism of birds is tied in the bones..

Video recorded by  Olle Koert, www.tt.ee

Image from webcam captured by  Felis Silvestris, LK forum

Translation Liis

Great tit       Rasvatihane     Parus major

Early on Sunday morning the nest box of the great tits was empty and desolate. The female spent the night in the nest box and the male guarded the surroundings to keep off intruders or even other nest contenders.

Image from webcam captured by  Shanta, LK forum

Video recorded by  Fleur, LK forum

Translation  Liis

By Saturday  morning the great tit had laid an egg

Great tit     Rasvatihane      Parus major

Great tits nest everywhere in Estonia and this year about 300-400 thousand great tit pairs will build a nest.  In camera view birds have spent the night in all nests but the egg is in the first nest box. There is quite a lot to tell about our ordinary great tits during the breeding season.