Athy Posted April 11, 2021 Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 7 minutes ago, magpie patrick said: ". It could be argued that to move with the nest in place is "taking" the nest, by the same argument, leaving the fender behind with the nest on it is probably legal. But if you did so, wouldn't you be an off-fender? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackofalltrades Posted April 11, 2021 Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 2 minutes ago, Athy said: But if you did so, wouldn't you be an off-fender? That was so bad it was almost good. But don't forget your coat on your way out ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted April 11, 2021 Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 4 minutes ago, Jackofalltrades said: That was so good. Edited for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWM Posted April 11, 2021 Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 (edited) If you're likely to be on and off the boat regularly it will most likely desert the nest before viable chicks hatch, we had that happen twice on our old mooring. If that's the case i wouldn't hesitate to either persuade it to move on with activity in the area or remove it before too advanced. It isn't being mean to move it on before laying as the potential brood will have a better outlook somewhere more suitable, and their nests tend to be wiped out regularly by wash, flooding and level changes. As others have said, they will also attract the attention of predatory species in such an open spot. Edited April 11, 2021 by BWM 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB Alnwick Posted April 11, 2021 Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 Moorhens are not the brightest of creatures - they often start building nests in odd places and then appear to forget about them. If she has not yet laid any eggs, no harm will be done by just moving off. She will soon build another nest in an equally precarious location. Unfortunately, their practice of building nests in relatively dangerous locations puts the eggs and chicks at risk to natural predators - especially crows and grass snakes. That these birds survive at all is a miracle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally Posted April 11, 2021 Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 You are looking about 35 days from laying to chick's actually leaving the nest, 22 days incubation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted April 11, 2021 Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 1 hour ago, Ally said: You are looking about 35 days from laying to chick's actually leaving the nest, 22 days incubation. Interesting. Moorhens (Waterhens) are classed as nidifugous i.e. they leave the nest on hatching. Incubation is generally between 20-22 days. Have you experience of the chicks staying in the nest after hatching? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haggis Posted April 11, 2021 Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 The moorhens in our village pond seem to leave the nest they hatched in and move to a new nest which has been built among the reeds in the pond. Not sure if they go back to the original nest (under a banking) or not haggis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted April 11, 2021 Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 Just now, haggis said: The moorhens in our village pond seem to leave the nest they hatched in and move to a new nest which has been built among the reeds in the pond. Not sure if they go back to the original nest (under a banking) or not haggis Nidifugous species (it means they leave the nest asap) don't generally return to the nest they hatched in. Moorhens are a bit different to most nidifugous species in that the young need the parents to find food and feed them at first where as a truly nidifugous species can feed themselves from hatching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally Posted April 12, 2021 Report Share Posted April 12, 2021 13 hours ago, Jerra said: Interesting. Moorhens (Waterhens) are classed as nidifugous i.e. they leave the nest on hatching. Incubation is generally between 20-22 days. Have you experience of the chicks staying in the nest after hatching? It's what the RSPB says. I've never had a nest close enough to me to watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted April 12, 2021 Report Share Posted April 12, 2021 38 minutes ago, Ally said: It's what the RSPB says. I've never had a nest close enough to me to watch. Ah that explains it. They give a period until fledging. Fledging for the majority of birds which stay in the nest (altricial) is thought of as when they leave the nest. However for birds which leave the nest on or soon after hatching (nidifugous) fledging is when they start to fly. If you think about it both are actually the same development point altricial birds leave the nest as they start to fly. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frahkn Posted April 12, 2021 Report Share Posted April 12, 2021 As I remember your garden, that "nest" is in quite an exposed position. What with your dog, passing boats etc, I doubt that the moorhen will persist with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudds Lad Posted April 12, 2021 Report Share Posted April 12, 2021 if they behave like Coots, then they are off the nest once hatched but the parents will build more accessible feeding platforms that look like half-arsed nests in reeds etc. and feed them for about 20-30 days before they fledge in earnest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted April 12, 2021 Report Share Posted April 12, 2021 3 minutes ago, Hudds Lad said: if they behave like Coots, then they are off the nest once hatched but the parents will build more accessible feeding platforms that look like half-arsed nests in reeds etc. and feed them for about 20-30 days before they fledge in earnest. Sometimes just floating down the cut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy D'arth Posted April 12, 2021 Report Share Posted April 12, 2021 Start the engine, if she doesn't like it, she will leave. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted April 12, 2021 Report Share Posted April 12, 2021 There are some things in life you just dont make public. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Lewis Posted April 12, 2021 Report Share Posted April 12, 2021 The three month long stoppage on the Hertford Union has today been further extended t allow for the re-location of coots nests! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuthound Posted April 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2021 2 hours ago, frahkn said: As I remember your garden, that "nest" is in quite an exposed position. What with your dog, passing boats etc, I doubt that the moorhen will persist with it. I hope so. I dont want to destroy the nest or make her intentionally homeless and risk prosecution, but I would like to go boating soon. I haven't seen her on the nest so far today, so maybe she has abandoned it already. Surprisingly, there have been no more boats passing today than over the last few weeks. Mind you there is only one nearby hire base and they only have a handful of boats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted April 12, 2021 Report Share Posted April 12, 2021 7 hours ago, Jerra said: (nidifugous) That's a fab word Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted April 12, 2021 Report Share Posted April 12, 2021 2 minutes ago, tree monkey said: That's a fab word When I first learned it I was told it was from the Latin nidi = nest fugous= rout (presumably the idea was that they retreat from the nest) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post cuthound Posted April 13, 2021 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted April 13, 2021 On 11/04/2021 at 15:50, Athy said: But if you did so, wouldn't you be an off-fender? Perhaps I could tempt her off the nest with some cornflakes. Or would that make me a cereal off fender? ?? 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted April 13, 2021 Report Share Posted April 13, 2021 4 minutes ago, cuthound said: Perhaps I could tempt her off the nest with some cornflakes. Or would that make me a cereal off fender? ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudds Lad Posted April 13, 2021 Report Share Posted April 13, 2021 1 hour ago, cuthound said: Perhaps I could tempt her off the nest with some cornflakes. Or would that make me a cereal off fender? ?? if they don't take the hint and come back, and you have to take steps again, would that make you a repeat off fender? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWM Posted April 13, 2021 Report Share Posted April 13, 2021 On 12/04/2021 at 10:26, Hudds Lad said: if they behave like Coots, then they are off the nest once hatched but the parents will build more accessible feeding platforms that look like half-arsed nests in reeds etc. and feed them for about 20-30 days before they fledge in earnest. Coots can be brutal, we had them and moorhens nesting next to our old mooring and more than once i saw the adults peck the head of any chicks they saw as sub par until dead. I also made the mistake of picking an adult up that had become entangled in litter - their talons would give an eagle a run for the money! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudds Lad Posted April 13, 2021 Report Share Posted April 13, 2021 48 minutes ago, BWM said: Coots can be brutal, we had them and moorhens nesting next to our old mooring and more than once i saw the adults peck the head of any chicks they saw as sub par until dead. I also made the mistake of picking an adult up that had become entangled in litter - their talons would give an eagle a run for the money! yup, not the greatest parents, they will wipe out the chicks that mither too much for food, or the ones that aren't keeping up, or the smallest.... any that make adulthood should pick lottery numbers i once made the mistake of rescuing a swallow that had got tangled in baling twine, beaked a right hole in my hand the little git 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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