Thanks Juliet. I was surprised at how close I could get with the camera last evening to get this photograph. I have worked out which is the mother bird now and she looks smaller than this youngster. She has done sterling work feeding them. But she is weaning them off more.
Their colours are very beautiful and the fledglings are looking resplendent with all the good care they have received. The parent birds are look thin and bedraggled in comparison.
Yep! We get like that don’t we? 😉 What a joy to see the little ones so well. You would almost feel that they were your own offspring. ( in a way they are since you have provided a haven and food for the tui family)
Oh yes the signs of parenting are obvious in us too! My grey hair and wrinkles are my medals I say:-) I’d quite like to be slimmer for all my years but……I have had to be philosophical about “my brood” of Tuis as there is no way of knowing of their survival rate but there were four earlier this week and we have counted four being weaned so fingers crossed. I cannot now bear the idea of trimming any trees after seeing how well they are used to raise Tuis. So perhaps our neglect has been very meaningful in ways I never considered. I keep thinking about another feeder, of the larger size. Location is the test.
I do wonder if our neighbours are finding it much gloomier in some of their rooms where the tall trees have gained greater height and density….probably where the Tui nest was located.
ordinarygoodness 
Good shot, Lynley. It’s so interesting to watch the fledglings develop. It’s quite plump; must be getting some good food.
Thanks Juliet. I was surprised at how close I could get with the camera last evening to get this photograph. I have worked out which is the mother bird now and she looks smaller than this youngster. She has done sterling work feeding them. But she is weaning them off more.
Love the sheen on the feathers.
Their colours are very beautiful and the fledglings are looking resplendent with all the good care they have received. The parent birds are look thin and bedraggled in comparison.
Yep! We get like that don’t we? 😉 What a joy to see the little ones so well. You would almost feel that they were your own offspring. ( in a way they are since you have provided a haven and food for the tui family)
Oh yes the signs of parenting are obvious in us too! My grey hair and wrinkles are my medals I say:-) I’d quite like to be slimmer for all my years but……I have had to be philosophical about “my brood” of Tuis as there is no way of knowing of their survival rate but there were four earlier this week and we have counted four being weaned so fingers crossed. I cannot now bear the idea of trimming any trees after seeing how well they are used to raise Tuis. So perhaps our neglect has been very meaningful in ways I never considered. I keep thinking about another feeder, of the larger size. Location is the test.
I think garden neglect can be incredibly beneficial.
I thought we were being idle and without determination with the garden but the outcome of such a wilderness has been bountiful.
The bees and little birds love my wilderness. They have no interest in our concepts of tidy and beautiful.
I do wonder if our neighbours are finding it much gloomier in some of their rooms where the tall trees have gained greater height and density….probably where the Tui nest was located.
Hopefully they would let you know if the trees are a problem. Perhaps they are enjoying the tui as well.
I hope so on both counts.