This
is Babe leaving the nest early this morning.
Here
are her five eggs she is leaving behind in the nest..
And
here is an unwelcome visitor wondering what's going on inside the nest box.
We often get into discussion with some of you about whether starlings represent a threat to the chicks. None of our books mention starlings predating on the chicks of smaller birds, but this one is clearly interested in something!
Perhaps it is just that starlings are inquisitive birds and this is something new!
The
starling was there for just 7 seconds before
...... zoom!
Babe
comes rushing back. She is clearly not going to give the starling the
benefit of the doubt!
Her
first action is to cover the eggs.
For
some time afterwards she stayed on guard - alert with her tail fanned
out. This behaviour is also to be found in the bluetit.
Soon
things are back to normal and here Ferdinand is bringing her some
food.
This was followed by five more feeds in close succession! Perhaps he was feeling guilty because he had been caught napping - again!