Thrushes

[Barbara Jane]

After having frightened the Blue Tits away I was very sad. However two days ago whilst cutting away the long grass at the bottom of my garden I saw a thrush sitting on a very low built nest and peeping over the top at me. I darted away not wanting the bad luck to continue and yesterday I saw there were three eggs. She is sitting on them today so I fled. Can anyone tell me how long it will be before there are chicks and if so will three be the final number?

Thanks - Barbara Jane

[Shamal]

A fortnight is about right for incubation of the eggs, then another fortnight before the young birds leave the nest.
3 eggs is around the minimum clutch size. It's hard to say if all three will hatch but it is easier for the parents to keep 3 nestlings happy with food than the larger broods that are possible.

Shamal

[Barbara Jane]

Just been down to the bottom of the garden to see what Mrs Thrush is doing and she is sitting tight on the 3 eggs. Hurried away not to disturbe but hope we might have an Easter Egg display!

Happy Easter to all bird lovers!

Barbara Jane

[Barbara Jane]

Just popped down to the bottom of the garden and Alleluia!!! I can see two chicks in the nest, but no mum anywhere to be seen. Could she be a one parent family and has to feed herself and chicks too? She couldn't possibly have left them could she? No,I promise, I haven't interfered this time and have left well alone. Help !!!

Barbara Jane

[Emma]

If the chicks have hatched then she may be off looking for food to feed her hungry little brood. Is the male still around?

Have you seen her since you posted the message at 09.29 this morning?

[Barbara Jane]

Thank you Emma for your reply unfortunately disaster has occured. I went down yesterday and all was well she was sitting on the babies again, but today the nest is completely empty!!! One of two things occured to me, the nest was extremely low and could have been raded by a hedgehog? it was so near to the ground they wouldn't even have to climb or the many magpies in the garden have raided the nest. What do you think? I,m not a lucky person so far with my new game of bird watching first the tits and now the thrushes. I was so pleased to see that all was going well, can't believe there is so much bad luck!

Barbara Jane

[Mobee]

Dont be too down hearted those thrushes built their home in a bad place, could have been cats that did the damage. My initial delight with the bluetits returning was premature, they stopped nest building for a while, too cold maybe? but now they are showing a lot of interest in a second box I put up about 3 years ago. I cant believe the woodpigeons, ever year since we moved here they have built a nest at the top of the same tree and every year it has been attacked by magpies I have found dead chicks and broken eggs on the ground. Guess where they are nesting this year. You got it!