Because we see things in double, we have not one but two connected nesting boxes, dedicated to the great tit (also accessible for the blue tit) which was put in place for the 2020 season. This 2nd nest is not located in Théding, but in Ostwald (part of the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg), on a 2nd floor apartment’s balcony. It is made on same plan as the 1st nest box but with a different camera model. To learn more about this installation, take a look behind the scenes (by clicking on the button below).

A great tit visits the connected birdhouse in Ostwald. Is she going to settle there and build her nest?

No more visits since the end of March, and on the morning of May 16: a first visit as a couple in the morning, a second in the afternoon and lots of materials brought afterwards. The construction of the nest is done very quickly but by intervals. The pair probably takes care of a first brood (from another nest box) and at the same time prepare the second brood with this new nest.

The construction of the nest was done very quickly: in 5 days, intermittently. Here is a timelaps.

On the evening of May 20, the female great tit settles in the nesting box to spend the night. An egg soon?

On the morning of May 22, the 1st egg appeared!

The female takes care of hatching the 5 eggs (laying from May 22 to 26) and the male brings food to the nest box. Often Madame is absent for short periods.

On June 06 in the morning, the 1st young appeared in this nesting box. The mother ate the shell and examined the newborn. The male quickly came to see and fed the chick.

Later in the day on June 06 a 2nd chick arrived. Both parents took care of the feeding.

It was on the night of June 06 to 07 that the 3rd chick was born. The mother put aside the 2 pieces of shell.

For this 4th birth, the mother made the newborn’s work easier by helping it open its shell. (07/06)

The 5th and last egg has given way to the last baby bird. Birth recorded on June 08 around 10 a.m.

In this video, the small great tits are 9 days old. Both parents are very active in feeding the chicks throughout the day. The nest is kept clean: the faecal sacs are eliminated and the nest bowl is regularly cleaned and mended by the female.

At 15 days, the small tits are already well plucked up. Both parents are efficient. The female takes special care in cleaning the nest to prevent the spread of parasites. (21/06)

Parents sometimes bring very big insects. This insect is hardly accepted by chicks. After 2 minutes, finally, a baby bird swallows it. (06/23)

The two parents invite the little ones to leave the nest box to start their new life! (26/06)

5 eggs and 5 fledglings, here is a nest filled with success! After 20 days in the nest box, the young birds emerge from the nest. A few minutes apart, as if they had received the signal from the parents. (26/06)

A small tit made a small stop on the balcony before joining the others in the trees nearby (26/06)

Because we are a little nostalgic, here is a short time-lapse with 1 photo per day of this beautiful nest. Good growth for these chicks well fed by both parents.

Kestrel, blue tit, great tit, redstart, pigeon and barn owl made the show in front of our cameras in 2020. Here is a recap of this year rich in emotions!

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