The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Speaking to Ron at Chambers wood today, informed me that 24 tit boxes all the young in 24 boxes were dead...

Dean...

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Dean Eades



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That is sad, indeed. Any explanation or previous high mortality, at the site, of the species?

Richard.....

Hi Richard,
These boxes are monitored by Ann Goodall and Janet Eastmead and I am sure the high mortality is unprecedented. It is not reflected elsewhere as the tit boxes that have been checked by the Mid Lincs Ringing Group in the north of the county (about 200 so far) have shown a low occupancy rate but good sized broods. In 9 out of 72 occupied boxes were there dead young - of these three boxes had been damaged by Great Spotted Woodpeckers (an increasing problem), one was waterlogged but there was no apparent reason for the other five. These were all "first" visits for the year so human disturbance can be discounted. Weather or lack of food (such as oak tortrix moth caterpillars) are most likely.

I have spoken to Ann Goodall and there seems to have been a break down in communication. In fact there were only 8 boxes were all the young were dead which is still a high number. Ann attributes it to three days of pretty heavy rain which probably prevented the female from brooding whilst looking for food. Interestingly, a brood of 13 of the same age were unaffectedby the weather. Hope that helps

Thanks for clarifying, Stuart.

Richard...