Artificial Home Fit for a Kingfisher

Seven kingfisher eggs have been laid in an artificial nest at Hampshire Wildlife Trust’s Winnall Moors nature reserve, Winchester.
By: Hampshire Wildlife Trust
 
SOUTHAMPTON, U.K. - May 10, 2013 - PRLog -- Seven kingfisher eggs have been laid in an artificial nest at Hampshire Wildlife Trust’s Winnall Moors nature reserve, Winchester. The nest, built by Wildlife Trust volunteers under the guidance of Volunteer Coordinator Alex Hogg, contains a next box camera and provides a unique opportunity to reveal the secrets of how a kingfisher builds a nest, lays the eggs and hatches them.

The female Kingfisher laid her first egg on the 17th April. Since then she has laid a further 6 eggs, all of which were laid almost exactly 24 hours apart, between 6 and 7 in the morning. The eggs are approximately 22mm long and 18mm in diameter and weigh about 4.5 grams. As they are laid at the end of a dark tunnel they need no markings for camouflage or a heavily tapered shape, as found on those of sea birds that nest on cliffs, which stops them from rolling out of the nest. However, it is thought that the white colour of the eggs may help the adults find the eggs in the limited light from the entrance tunnel. The female will only brood them (sit on them to keep them warm) when she has finished laying all the eggs so that the young hatch at a similar time, giving them the same chance of survival.

Alex Hogg is really excited about the success so far of the Kingfisher nest.

He said, “Earlier in the year the remotely placed cameras revealed that a pair of Kingfishers had been investigating the artificial nest tunnel. Initially a lone bird was seen flying into the entrance tunnel, albeit briefly, but then two birds were seen in the same frame, confirming a pair had found the nest. I also caught a glimpse of a Kingfisher flying past with a fish in its bill with the head end facing out wards. As Kingfishers have to swallow fish head first, so that the scales and fins don’t get stuck in their throat, this must have been a male taking the fish to a female. In Kingfisher courtship the male offers fish to the female to prove his worth as a fisher and potential mate that can provide for food for the chicks when they hatch.”

Here is the link to see the footage of the first kingfisher egg being laid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mywX5wS9LcI



And now you can follow the story so far and the progress of the Kingfishers over the next few weeks by following Alex’s blog at http://www.hiwwt.org.uk/pages/winnall-moors-r.html
and also by watching the live internet stream from the nest, the first time this has ever been done, available at the Wildlife Trust’s website http://www.hiwwt.org.uk/pages/winnall-moors-r.html
End
Source:Hampshire Wildlife Trust
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Location:Southampton - Hampshire - England
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