The birds with no exception all feed at the new square treat, the squirrels however managed to eat all three round fat balls in less than two hours. I felt it was three too many and so we sabotaged the squirrels by putting a copious layer of petroleum jelly over the lid of the fat ball container.
Despite trying repeatedly to reach the fat balls it now proved impossible for them. This is of course exactly what I wanted, but every time a squirrel comes and stands, gazing longingly at the fat balls, I feel sorry for him and guilty for preventing him reaching them.
Long tailed tits build a round ball of a nest, with a tiny entry and exit hole high up on one side. The nest is made of moss, lichen, and spiders webs and is lined with 2,000 or more soft feathers, it takes up to three weeks to build and between 5 and 16 white eggs with purplish red speckles are laid in it. The eggs are incubated for12 - 14 days and the nestlings fledge in 14 - 18 days, they are fed not only by both parents but also by other long tailed tits, especially males who have not bred that year.
The long tailed tit is one of only three birds that build a round nest, the other two are the wren and the chiff-chaff.
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