With all my Hs Martin nest-boxes long abandoned a clean up was in order this
weekend. I was expecting to find nest No 2 and No 4 with eggs as both had
been deserted earlier in August. However, upon examination the extent of the
general abandonment was surprising and was as follows: No 1. 3 x small
chicks, No2. 3 x developed chicks, No 4. 2 eggs, No 5. 3 eggs, No 6. 4
eggs. No3.was not used and No 4. was a July starter the other four were on
second brood's. I can only surmise that food shortage was the key element
leading to a touch of 'Thatcherism' by the parents. The bossy bibbed bandits
(Hs Sps) have caused some disruption entering the nest boxes etc it may have
had some bearing but I somehow doubt it. I see it as 15 potential birds lost
but on the bright side the returning migratory flocks I have witnessed this
year have surpassed previous years in numbers, perhaps nature is keeping the
balance. On an even more macabre subject I'm grateful the resident nest
cretins are not any bigger they certainly don't win any prizes in the beauty
stakes. I have had to buy my wife new marigold gloves didn't have the heart
to tell her what I was using them for :-). See Pic
Tony Clark