nesting birds

[gleno1]

this year i have had bluetits in my nesting box after years of trying When i took it down to clean it out there were 2 fully formed dead chicks in it As the parents worked for weeks going back and to to feed the litter i am wondering if any more had survived and flew the nest or maybe there were only 2 chicks born Could anybody shed any light on the matter for me please Thankyou

[wizbit12]

It is more than likely that they were more eggs in the nest.
bluetits lay around 6 eggs on average so the chances are that around 4 other chicks had survived.
We have been having bluetits in our garden for several years now, and most years when we clean the nest out we find either dead chicks or unhatched eggs.

[gleno1]

thankyou both very much wizbit 12 and In A Pickle for replying to my question its much appreciated

[brachiopod]

I'd agree with what has already been posted - a sudden drop in temperature or wet / damp weather (ie. what we've had all so-called summer !) can kill off chicks right up to the fledgling stage.

Sadly, it would appear that these were probably the strongest of the brood, since the parents will usually have removed from the nest any unhatched eggs, dead hatchlings, and the bodies of any weaker chicks that die along the way.

In this case, the parents left the nest without removing the bodies, suggesting they had no surviving brood to "keep the nest clean for".

Despite this being an exceptional year weather-wise - as Picks says, it is what most birds do - lay many eggs as an 'insurance policy' - or have multiple egg laying sessions, as a cold snap in early summer can kill off an entire brood, many species are quite adept abandoning the first nesting attempt and trying again in the same season.

It's sad, but it's nature.

[ethandron]

we have a flock (if that's the right word) of bluetits in our garden, they are fascinating aren't they? they come down to feed at the nut holders we hang out, and have a bath in the bird bath. we've recently been getting some long tailed tits too, which are completely different.
where do these birds nest, if not in someones nest box? they seem very secretive and nervous, fly off at the slightest movement. whereas the blackbirds we feed with sultanas will actually feed from our hands now.

[gleno1]

thankyou brachipod for replying to my querie about the bluetits i have learned a lot from the 3 replies that i have had thankyou

[gleno1]

thankyou ethandron for your comments funnily enough i didnt see the parents again after the chicks flew the nest we live next door to a large uncultivated garden so maybe they live in there i still put the nuts out for them though