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Springwatch with Hellsbells


Reserve where do voluntary work, got 2 marsh harriers which is unusual for area, hopefully got a nest, uncertain at moment.
Got 5 moorhen chicks too, but sadly probably get flanged by the resident heron/coots at some point.
 
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First video of the chicks. You can see one actually hatching in this on, next to Mildred’s right foot. She takes the eggshell off it’s head.

More videos coming.
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You can see some mouths in this one. Both birds come in - George is the second in and the darker of the two.
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This one was today at 5.30am. Lots of big mouths! You can already see them getting stronger. She comes in and chirps and they open up.


We think we have seven now. One hatched this morning around 4am - we saw the eggshell at the side before she took it out. But it’s just a mass of skin and beaks at the minute so it’s really difficult to tell.

One thing that’s clear is that any born now will be much weaker than the two day old chicks who are much better at open wing beaks for food, so you do wonder if the later ones will survive.
 
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Hettonlass said:
How's the chicks doing
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Getting bigger! I think we still have 8 but it’s really hard to count as they are just a big pile of mouths and fluff. They are definitely getting more downy though.

Here’s my kids favourite video so far - how baby birds have a poo in a nest.

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And this one was this morning (more pooing). I think they are noticeably bigger.

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HellsBells said:
Getting bigger! I think we still have 8 but it’s really hard to count as they are just a big pile of mouths and fluff. They are definitely getting more downy though.

Here’s my kids favourite video so far - how baby birds have a poo in a nest.

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And this one was this morning (more pooing). I think they are noticeably bigger.

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Kids must find it fascinating. I would have loved something like tgat when I was a boy. Well done giving them memories and more ecological than a pet😀
 
Harry Angstrom said:
Kids must find it fascinating. I would have loved something like tgat when I was a boy. Well done giving them memories and more ecological than a pet😀
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One of them is really attached to them. We haven’t named the chicks because I know that will lead to some tears when they don’t all survive! I’ve told him we’ll have to say goodbye to them all in a few weeks and he got sad. I think every time we see a bluebird from now on, it’ll be Mildred.
 
HellsBells said:
One of them is really attached to them. We haven’t named the chicks because I know that will lead to some tears when they don’t all survive! I’ve told him we’ll have to say goodbye to them all in a few weeks and he got sad. I think every time we see a bluebird from now on, it’ll be Mildred.
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It will a good start to explain nature and a bit of maths. I reckon a quick lesson on Darwin and over population will be good. Maybe wait until they are a bit older.
 
Quick update before I start getting ready for the match.

We still have eight chicks (I’m amazed we haven’t lost any). They’re getting lots of feathers especially on their wings and yellow breasts of a blue tit too.

They’ll be two weeks old on Monday and I think we then have another week or so before they fledge. Given the speed they’ve grown I’ll be amazed if the box is big enough to hold them all till then!

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