Although we need to collate all the data, the impression from our 17 nest box schemes is that it has been a very good season. In most cases numbers of occupied boxes is well up. Pied Flycatchers especially have had the highest numbers for several years especially in the higher altitude woods. They have a good spread of arrivals with some pairs feeding well grown young and others just starting incubation. Brood size is good the average for the 20 broods ringed so far is seven. Our RAS on this species is going well with good numbers of adults caught.
Pied Flycatcher Nest
Tit broods are also high and except for a few total broods, which are probably due to predation of the adults there has been no deaths of young. We also have more Redstarts using boxes this year, some using special boxes with a key hole style entrance
This all suggests that, food which is mainly caterpillars is abundant, a suggestion supported by the numbers of caterpillars one finds attached to your clothes are you do the rounds of the boxes.
John
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