Currie Ecology Nest Record Scheme (British Trust for Ornithology)

Trials and Tribulations for the Roof-nesting Oystercatchers !

One of the adult Oystercatchers was found dead on the ground at the back of the school a few days ago. The cause of death is not known but it left a real challenge for the remaining parent to feed and protect both chicks.  When it is away collecting food on the playing fields it cannot protect the chicks from predators such a gulls.  Soon after the death of the parent both chicks seemed fine but within a few days the one on the right of the picture, which was slighlty younger and smaller than the one on the right, had died - probably of starvation. In other words the single parent could not cope with providing food for both chicks and the older dominant one took the lion's share of what food was available.  If there is anything good from this it is that the remaining chick is growing well (now not far off flying)  and is still looked after by the one attentive parent.

Good news on Camera Box Blue Tits!

Many people have enjoyed following the Blue Tit nest in the Quad.  All the chicks have fledged successfully and have left the box.  On the 5th June one chick was seen by one observer doing "a lot of wing whirring" - flying practice!  By the next day it was gone and by the 9th June all the chicks had fled the nest!  They will be looked after outside the nest by the adults for a week or so and will then be independent.  Wonder if one of them will come back to the nest box next year.

By Molly

CurriEco Nest Records 2014 - British Trust for Ornithology Nest Record Scheme

It has been a good start to the spring 2014 breeding season!

The roof-nesting Oystercatchers have returned and laid three eggs.  Two have hatched and we now have 2 chicks running around the roof!  The parents continue to defend them vigorously from predating gulls and crows.

In the quad the old box has not been used though Blue Tits inspected it earlier in the spring.  Instead they chose the old camera box for the first time in years.   Blackbirds have again nested in the flowering clemetis bushes in the quad and are busy feeding four large chicks. They nest there most years.

One of the new boxes put out in the winter in  northern woodland boundary strip has Bluetits in occupation, when we last looked there were nine eggs with the female brooding the eggs.

The Roley's Wood boxes have still to be properly inspected.

We are running three record cards at the moment and will make it four if we can get the quad camera to work.

If any staff or pupils wishes to see the birds close-up please speak with Mr Walton and we'll arrange a visit.

Nest Records Update (Currie Ecology Nest Records - BTO Nest Record Scheme)

The rooftop Oystercatcher chick just before it is let go, back to its parents.

Our BTO licensed ringer carefully fits the chick with its ring and number:

FA81541.

A quick 'hello' to Currie Ecology pupils.

 

Date:  13th  June 2013. UPDATE 3
Nest Box  No./ Nest record No.	Location	Species		Nesting Activity	Notes
1/	Quad.	Blue Tit		-	A few days ago only 4 healthy chicks remained but they were growing well. Today they were dead – cause unknown.  The adults were still present and looking after the box, so could have been disease.
2/	Front (Sparrow)				Apparently unoccupied
3/	Front (Sparrow)				Apparently unoccupied
4/	Front (Sparrow)				Apparently unoccupied
5/	Roley’s Wood	Blue Tit		-	This was a failed nest.
6/	Roley’s Wood	Great Tit		Successful nest	Should be fledged and away by now.
7/	Roley’s Wood			TBC	Still to be re-visited
8/	Roley’s Wood			TBC	Still to be re-visited.  Someone disturbed the box by trying to take it off the tree.
Open Nests
	Quad.			Successful nest	4 chicks fledged
	Main building roof	Oyster- catcher		Two chicks were running freely with pin feathers – one found dead today.	The larger healthy chick was ringed, number FA81541. There were some Herring Gulls loafing around so the dead chick might be a result of an attempt at predation.

Currie Ecology Nest Records (British Trust for Ornithology Nest Record Scheme)

 

Date:  23rd May 2013 - Update
Nest Box  No./ Nest record No.	Location	Species		Nesting Activity	Notes
1/	Quad.	Blue Tit		Female brooding 8 eggs	Male is bring food for the female
2/	Front (Sparrow)				Apparently unoccupied
3/	Front (Sparrow)				Apparently unoccupied
4/	Front (Sparrow)				Apparently unoccupied
5/	Roley’s Wood	Blue Tit		Female brooding 9 eggs	Maybe more eggs to come!
6/	Roley’s Wood	Great Tit		Female on 4 chicks	Only about 2 days old!
7/	Roley’s Wood			Some nesting material inside	Looks like building stopped
8/	Roley’s Wood	Blue Tit		Nest with 3 eggs	Maybe more eggs to come
Open Nest - record No.
TBC	Quad.	Blackbird		Four large chicks	Almost ready to fledge.! This is the second brood of Blackbird s in the Quad. this year!  A record!