CurrEco Nest Records (British Trust for Ornithology Nest Record Scheme) - the Oystercatcher story.

This is the first glimpse of our two Oystercatcher chicks on the roof.  They do not have much shelter so like to tuck-up against the bricks when hiding.

BTO ringers came in to ring them last week, so each now has a unique number which could be found where ever they fly to in the future.

As everyone in the school can hear from their loud alarm calls, the parents are very attentive.  They often sit on the parapet of the roof calling to those of us below to keep away!  The photo on the left are not our ones, but just like them.


                                                                           

 

There were originally three eggs in our nest, which was no more than this thin scape of stones. One egg was probably infertile as it never hatched.  Now that the parents are busy looking after the chicks the egg has been abandoned and has signs that it had been pecked at by a predator, probably a gull or crow.  Notice the perfect design of the egg - good size for growing a chick but pointed so it does not roll away.  Nicely camouflaged too.