The Estonian Ornithological Society elects a bird of the year in Estonia since 1995 and the 22nd in line is the great tit. The aim of selecting a bird of the year is to introduce a bird species or group of species present in Estonia to the public and to bring along nature enthusiasts in the study and protection of this species. The Year of the Tit is supported by the Estonian Environmental Investment Centre (Keskkonnainvesteeringute Keskus).
The great tit (Parus major) belongs to the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common bird throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central and Northern Asia, and parts of North Africa.
It is predominantly insectivorous in the summer, but will consume a wider range of food items in the winter months. Like all tits it is a cavity nester, usually nesting in a hole in a tree and in all kinds of next boxes.
The female lays between 3-13 eggs from the beginning of May through July and incubates them alone, although both parents raise the chicks. In most years the pair will raise two broods. Second broods tend to have smaller clutches.
The eggs are white with red spots. The female undertakes all incubation duties, and is fed by the male during incubation. The bird is a close sitter, hissing when disturbed. The timing of hatching, which is best synchronised with peak availability of prey, can be manipulated when environmental conditions change after the laying of the first egg by delaying the beginning of incubation, laying more eggs or pausing during incubation. The incubation period is between 12 to 15 days.
Chicks are fed by both parents. Both parents provision the chicks with food and aid in nest sanitation by removing faecal packets, with no difference in the feeding effort between the sexes. The nestling period is between 16 to 22 days, with chicks being independent of the parents eight days after fledging. Feeding of the fledgeling may continue after independence, lasting up to 25 days in chicks from the first brood, but as long as 50 days in the second brood. Nestlings from second broods have weaker immune systems and body condition than those from first broods, and hence have a lower juvenile survival rate.
The nests may be raided by woodpeckers, squirrels and weasels and infested with fleas, and adults may be hunted by sparrowhawks. The great tit has adapted well to human changes in the environment and is a common and familiar bird in urban parks and gardens. The great tit is also an important study species in ornithology.
Now, as the year slowly gets warmer and spring has come, we will be able to follow the nesting of great tits.
A third nest box on the island of Saaremaacan be viewed following this link from: tt.ee: http://webcam.tt.ee/eng/ On the left column choose "Nest box"
First clutch seems complete with 11 eggs and breeding has started.
Second clutch seems to be complete with 8 eggs. Breeding has started.
First clutch seems complete with 9 eggs.
The great tit was not seen anymore after May 12, the egg left in the box.
Owl Cam turned into the Owl´s Potential Prey Cam?
Owls didn´t breed in the nestbox this season and we switched the cam to smaller nestbox which is suitable for great tit and others. Great tit is bird of the year 2016 in Estonia and there will be this one and another webcam(s) in small nestboxes/cavities.
thank you Renno for the info.
Thank you for this Cam of little birds!
Oh, very nice, this nest box for great tit breed! Thank you!
In my garden I have also two nest boxes for tits, so it is very interesting for me, to watch the nest life from indoor.
The great tit is sleeping .