Webcam gets the nest view
It's a case of watch the birdie at a Midland beauty spot where visitors can get a bird's eye view of a pair of blue tits raising their family. It's a case of watch the birdie at a Midland beauty spot where visitors can get a bird's eye view of a pair of blue tits raising their family. The birds have set up home in a special webcam nest box at Severn Valley Country Park at Alveley, near Bridgnorth. The duo are now sitting on an unusually-large clutch of 10 eggs and staff are keeping their fingers crossed that they will soon be able to watch the proud parents feeding their brood. Live images are also being shown in the visitor centre at the country park so visitors can watch continuous coverage from the nest. This is the first year a webcam has been placed in a birdbox. The tiny camera is hidden in the roof of the box so it does not disturb the birds and their chicks. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
The birds have set up home in a special webcam nest box at Severn Valley Country Park at Alveley, near Bridgnorth.
The duo are now sitting on an unusually-large clutch of 10 eggs and staff are keeping their fingers crossed that they will soon be able to watch the proud parents feeding their brood.
Live images are also being shown in the visitor centre at the country park so visitors can watch continuous coverage from the nest. This is the first year a webcam has been placed in a birdbox. The tiny camera is hidden in the roof of the box so it does not disturb the birds and their chicks.
Blue tits usually lay up to eight eggs which take around two weeks to hatch. Both parents work hard to feed the chicks with insects and grubs.
They normally nest in any suitable hole in a tree, wall or stump but are one of the few birds that like an artificial nest box. But they often have to compete with house sparrows or great tits for the site. The same hole is returned to year after year and when one pair dies another takes possession. Their life expectancy is 18 months.
The blue tit is a common and popular European garden bird, due to its perky acrobatic performances when feeding on nuts or suet. The song period lasts almost all the year round, but is most often heard from February to June.
Countryside Ranger at the park Ed Andrew said: "We are so pleased to have this fantastic technology at the park. The eggs should be about ready to hatch some time during the first bank holiday weekend in May and the parent birds will then have a very busy few weeks collecting caterpillars to feed the helpless fledglings."
For pictures from the nest visit www.bridgnorth.gov.uk/birdbox
