Day 19

The laptop didn't go on until 9am this morning - a bit later than normal. What would I find?

All four still in residence!

Meg and Ted have been in the box almost constantly this morning (looking at the recorded footage from while I was still in bed!). They must be using food from the garden as they are so quick with the visits. But their behaviour is slightly different to normal. They're not normally in the box this much and they're not always bringing food in, either.

Are they letting the chicks know that time in the box is almost up?

The four chicks huddle in the corner...

but they turn round and beg for food as soon as it comes in.

They've repositioned to the front of the box now, and the chick in the middle glances up to the entrance hole...

"Shall I have a quick look?"

and up he goes! His first glance outside...

"What the hell are you doing! Come back down!"

And so he does! That's him at the side, facing the back of the box. Did he like what he saw?

Dad arrives with a little bit of food which he passes between all 4 chicks.

A bit more wing-flapping. Got to get those wings nice and strong!

Ted comes in again. No food this time. The chicks must know it's almost time to leave the box... but will they do it today?

This one decides she's just not ready! I think she's on strike. "Shan't do it!"

She's still facing the back of the nest four minutes later - and then gets disturbed by a big wing-stretch.

"I don't wanna do it either"

Mum and dad in at the same time... No food.

They're still not ready to go! Two of them decide to have a nap.


Dad's turn to come in again. All four chicks are still here - one is out of view at the bottom.

Another visit with no food - there have been lots like this today.

No food!

Ted suddenly turns up all wet! It hasn't been raining so he must have had a bath.


A group discussion on whether they should leave today... It's gone 3pm now, they're going to have to decide soon...

Okay, maybe later...

Food this time. And Meg and Ted both arrive at the same time.

Another look outside; this has happened several times now but they keeping coming back down to the safety of the nest.

More food - but it's tiny bits again - and it's still being spread between all four of them.

With Meg. Almost 7pm now...

Forty five minutes later and they seem to have bedded down for the night.

It's getting late now so I've decided to turn the lights off and let them sleep!