**Updated 4th July 2014 - with clips of our reed warbler chicks finally leaving the nest and the bittern chicks**
Springwatch 2014 may have ended, but life goes on for our wild characters. Inspired by our new all-year presence on the web and social media, we left a couple of cameras up at RSPB Minsmere. We filmed some of the reed warbler chicks fledging; as ever, one seemed reluctant to leave the nest, and was still there when we finally had to take the camera down!
The reed warbler chicks at Minsmere on our webcams finally fledge and leave the nest.
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With the help of the RSPB, we are still filming the two bittern chicks, which seem to have taken the idea of 鈥榮emi-fledging鈥� to a new level. Though they are moving away from the nest, they quickly return when Mum comes back to feed them. They are also spending a lot of time practicing their hunting skills, though it looks like they have a lot to learn, as they seem to be catching a lot of vegetation! *Update 1 July - the chicks are wing flapping, preening and at 44 days old, they could fledge within 2 weeks*
**Update 4 July 2014 - Bittern chicks on the nest filmed the weekend after we left**
Our famous bittern chicks on the nest, filmed by Nigel the weekend after we left.
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The RSPB estimate that it will be 18 days [NB FROM 26.06] before the chicks fully fledge, and we hope to follow them right up to this seminal moment. We鈥檙e only able to do this because of some new technology: the bittern camera is being powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
BITTERN fuel cell sizewell
We first trialed these eco-friendly generators last Autumnwatch, and we then used them on Winterwatch to film golden eagles and black grouse in the Scottish Highlands. Fueled by an ethanol mix, these are incredibly quiet and long-running and they are now enabling us to film greater distances from our base as well as for much longer periods of time.
Sadly, not all of our fledglings have fared as well as the bitterns. Cuckoozilla, our magnificent young cuckoo, drowned the weekend after Springwatch ended when some bad weather hit East Anglia. Everyone in the office was devastated by the news, which is unfortunately a common end for many young cuckoos. Dave Leech from the BTO, who had been monitoring the nest, was similarly distraught, and
We鈥檒l continue to bring you all of the latest news about the bitterns and other wildlife stories over the next few weeks, and throughout the summer.
There are lots of ways to get in touch and keep up with nature online this summer:
You can keep up to date on the and via this blog.
We have a page, which you can find by simply signing in to Facebook and searching for '主播大秀 Springwatch' - once you've liked the page, updates will automatically appear in your news feed. You can post photos, video and comments to our wall for the team to see.
If you use or are keen to get involved in all things nature, you can .This is a great place for timely nature news as well as connecting with the nature community. If you'd like to tweet us and join the conversation, simply sign up and start tweeting! You can tweet us using @主播大秀Springwatch or simply use #Summerwatch to join in.听
We also have a currently boasting over 360,000 photos and counting...
You can browse the group , or sign-up to Flickr in order to post photos to our pool, take part in discussions, get tips and advice on nature and photography.
Over the summer we'll use all of these platforms to keep you up to date.听
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The 鈥榃atches鈥� team are now hard at work on Autumnwatch, which will be back on 主播大秀2, the Red Button and online on Tuesday 28th October. Get that date in the diary!
Until then, thank you for all your support and contributions during Springwatch - without you the programme just wouldn't be what it is. Please keep on sending us your pictures, videos, observations and anecdotes.
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I hope you have a truly wild summer!
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James Smith
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James
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