Plume de Ville

• Home -
• Contact -
• Links ---
• Latest updates
• ---

 Blue Tits 2007

---

15 April

Nice and hot (17°C) and a red sun at dawn.

She leaves towards 7h10 but he, for the first time, is not there.

9 or more?











He arrives with the breakfast in the beak. She is not there. Then he leaves again. They return together half an hour later.
She remains in the nest he sings.

As yesterday, Penelope remains to brood long periods in the course of the day. Ulysses waits patiently. He sings gently and she answers with a small cry very close to that of the swallows.

Pretty pattern for the 10 carefully placed!

The luminous spot in the photographs is that of the sun entering the nesting box.

In the afternoon I hear a curious cry: like screech screech. I see a first titmouse then a second right at side, wings lowered and quivering. Yes, but a third in the nesting box?

The two first are our big ones, the female requiring an offering from her partner. Then one of them roost on the nesting box, fortunately Ulysses is not there.

A few moments later I hear him, tseee titit tsee titit there he is with a beakthful. He asks for the authorization of enter which is easily granted to him.

Watch VIDEO   (70Ko, 10s) et 

Watch VIDEO   (58Ko, 6s) .









He leaves again. A few minutes later, the same tseee titit tsee titit a new beakful.

She remains in the nest and it broods during more than one hour. She will thus brood through long periods, all the day, interrupted by short strolls of half an hour maximum and by some last fitting out works.

Enlarge these pictures. The threads -- or should I say hairs -- are so fine that they are hardly visible.

 

Did she find all that plundering a vacuum cleaner dust bag? She has just left the nesting box and taken along with her this tuft. She will pick at it. She has the beak full of it.

The nest will well accommodate still another small feather.

.

I did not resist this marvelous display; then, still a photograph of the 10!









It is 19h45. They left. The big tit takes advantage to pay a thorough visit to the terrace.

---

16 April

Beautiful weather. 20°C from the morning.

He is not there to sing this morning. Now he has to work. He must nourish her because she broods.

He brings her the breakfast. She leaves briefly at 7h20 and returns to the nest.

All the morning he makes the shuttle to bring her beakful after beakful. Either he enters and feeds her “in bed” or she leaves and perches beside the nesting box, beak open and wings gently quivering, and he comes to nourish her and sets out again at once. When he returns one hears his call tseeet titit, I am there, you leave? He brings the first green caterpillars of the season to her.

11 eggs. Something to be anxious. Will they be able to find enough caterpillars? Ulysses will have 12 beaks to nourish besides himself. And it is not sure that the laying is finished. When she starts to brood she can still lay one or two more eggs.

The brooding is really started; she leaves the nest very little. Periodically she turns over her eggs and moves them so that each one receives the same quantity of heat.

Lady Penelope, of course!

An invitation, and Ulysses answers readily.

Always after his tseee titit to announce his arrival, he brings to her these superb green caterpillars, whose titmouses are fond of. He takes tender care of her.

It still sometimes happens to them to eat a little peanut passing by; but the principal food is now the caterpillars. It seems that there are caterpillars this season, so much better

---

17 April

Nice weather, 17°C in the morning.

Now, he does not await her any more singing in the morning. He is very busy seeking the breakfast. She leaves alone towards 7h30 and returns almost at once.

12 eggs.















Hard work for him. All the day he does the shuttle. For the brooder, exclusive menu, the specialty of the house, the apple green caterpillar.

He seldom enters. He sings his song of call, and she exits. 

We did not succeed yet to determine which caterpillar it is. But all the caterpillars seem to be of the same species.

---

18 April

Nice and a little cooler. 9°C in the morning.

She broods. Exit at 7h03.

Always 12, it is possible that the laying is finished.
It is a beautiful brood, but normal for blue tits.
Let us hope that they find sufficient food for all these future beaks.

Ulysses is always at work. She doesn't grow weary of caterpillars. Outside she begs like a chick, lowered wings, quivering. She broods permanently; sometimes she allows herself a small walk of ten minutes. 

Bon appetit!

She leaves immediately at his call and swallows immediately and quickly the caterpillar. This photograph is rare: it is very difficult to be there at the right place, at the right moment, (and good focus). And even, if one success, there is almost no time to see the caterpillar changing beaks.

Appetizing, isn't?





















They are very defensive and do not tolerate at all the great tit. Mister great tit also must nourish his female. Even alone Penelope leaves the nest at full speed and plunges directly on the great tit. I was on the balcony one moment and Penelope in her nest. I looked at the video display from time to time to be sure to do not disturb. She did not move and continued to brood. A great tit came and perched at a short distance from me. Of course, I froze but Penelope left the nest abruptly and precipitated on the great tit. How did she hear her? Me, I didn't hear anything. She cannot see what happens outside as she lies at the bottom of her nest, but she is aware of all that occurs around its nest.








A small caterpillar to finish the day?

---

NEXT