This has been an excellent breeding season for the three main specie nesting in the six nest box schemes that I record. After last years abysmal productivity, I expected numbers to be down and this was the case in all species -Great Tit declined from 48 pairs to 41, Blue Tit from 50 to 45 and Pied Flycatcher from 26 pairs to 19.
Productivity though was excellent 88% of Great Tit nests were successful compared to just 49%in 2015. Blue tits were 83% compared to 49% and Pied Flycatcher 84% compared to 55%. In consequence numbers fledged were well up as brood sizes were also larger. In total 202 Great Tits fledged compared to 108 in 2015, Blue Tits 243 compared to 158 and Pied Flycatchers 97 compared to 39.
Obviously caterpillars must have been abundant at the right time with very few dead young in the nest. Also with broods being well fed they were not calling for food so did not attract the attention of predators. Certainly lots of young tits around in the woods at the moment.
John
No comments:
Post a Comment