blue tits...

[Nicos]

Just been reading up on blue tits- and found this article...

Ten million blue tit chicks died during summer - Telegraph

I thought we'd not seen so many as they love the aphids and small insects on our plot.
- note to self to get more bird food if this rain keeps up!

[Two_Sheds]

Interesting and sad report. It seems a combination of wet weather and fewer caterpillars are too blame.
Concrete driveways = no insects = fewer birds
Any fledgelings that survived floods and starvation had to also endure predation by cats - the moggy next to my plot kills nearly every blue tit that manages to leave the nest.