Dutch Great Tit Feeds Her Nine Babies

May 7, 2009: The first egg was laid on April 15 and the ninth on April 23. Observing the nest, it appears Mother did not incubate the eggs 24/7 until the last egg was laid. She feeds them every few minutes, and when she is satisfied all are fed, she broods them, covering them with her soft, warm feathers. The Great Tit can lay as many as 15 eggs. The Great Tit (Parus major) is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common species throughout Europe and Asia . Most do not migrate. It inhabits woodlands and lives in tree hollows or in the garden nest-boxes. Its willingness to move into nest boxes has made it a valuable study subject in ornithology, and it is one of the best studied birds in the world. Nests are cup-shaped and made from vegetation. The breeding season usually starts in March and lasts until July Larger than Blue Tits, these birds are 14 cm (6 inches) long and green and yellow with a striking glossy black head, white cheeks and a distinctive two-syllable song. The black breast stripe is wider on males. They eat seeds and scraps on the ground or on bird tables and in nut feeders. They can be quite aggressive at a bird-table, fighting off smaller tits. In winter, family flocks of Great Tits are joined by Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits and other woodland species as they search for food. This bird was introduced into the United States between 1872 and 1874 but failed to become established. The male, also called a cock, seeks out potential nest. But the female bird, a hen, makes the final decision. They feed on vegetation, seeds and invertebrates. In comparison to other tits the Great tit does not hoard food. When roosting they are able to lower their body temperature in a nest during night. This enables them to use their energy effectively. After the breeding season they are often found flying with other birds, during the breeding season they are more territorial. Sources: Wikipedia, RSPB, Encyclopedia Britannica, wildanimalsonline. Here is some interesting research: Alternative ways to control caterpillar pests and reduce the use of pesticides in apple orchards are in the interest of the environment, farmers and the public. Great tits have already been shown to reduce damage under high caterpillar density when breeding in nest boxes in an experimental apple orchard.(Christel M.M. Mols, Marcel E. Visser*Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Heteren, The Netherlands) Watch the live stream here: http://www.beleefdelente.nl/