Wanna see my tits?

[NickFitz]

Last baby dead this morning

Shame - yesterday it was moving round the box, and I really hoped it might be up and away today.
Not to be this time - better luck next year hopefully.

[OwlHoot]

OUrs definitely removed the dead chick yesterday - not buried.
Remaining chick still alive and well, and leaving the nest cup. Thought he'd gone awol, but he's at the back of the box, almost out of range of camera. Hoping he'll be ready for the off in the next couple of days.

Stuff I've read seems to suggest that survival is dependent on supply of caterpillars - so if the timing or weather's wrong, there's not enough food. Bird table food is no good for the babies, as they need the moisture from the caterpillars. But 9 out of 10 dying doesn't seem like a good ratio.

Will try and get a pic later if he comes back into shot - looking much more like a baby bird and less like an embryo.

I was going to mention a caterpillar shortage, but wasn't sure if your birds were a species that relied on them.

Next year, if the weather is like this year, maybe you should try scattering a few live meal worms on the ground near the box. I'm sure they'd be just as welcome and palatable as caterpillars.

Also, once the birds have finished with the box for this year, I'd leave it in a bucket of boiling water to kill any parasite eggs (or indeed live parasites, which can last for months without eating).

[ctdctd]

Last baby dead this morning

That makes me glum - I was hoping for a happy ending

[TimberWolf]

Sad news, and a little surprising that they couldn't feed one.

[Diver]

Sad news, and a little surprising that they couldn't feed one.

Peanuts put out for birds in the nesting season kill more chicks from feeding than anything else apparently, they can't digest them and they starve to death with swollen stomachs if fed too many. Choke on larger pieces and are quickly poisoned if the peanuts are mouldy.

[Zippy]

WNFS with an extra

[Pogle]

Oh that's so sad, here have a

[mudskipper]

Thanks all - it is disappointing, but wasn't looking hopeful.
Good idea about the live mealworms - we'd been putting out dried ones, but I guess they don't have the moisture content.
Think it's just one of those things - hopefully next year we'll have a happier result.

[OwlHoot]

Good idea about the live mealworms - we'd been putting out dried ones, but I guess they don't have the moisture content.

or the noticeability content perhaps.

They say pythons will only notice and hunt live mice, and possibly the same is true of birds when it comes to grubs and suchlike.

[Scoobos]

Really sorry to hear that, it was perhaps worth it for those initial nesting days though - super cute.