Let’s just all agree right now—long-tailed tits, no matter their age, are blooming cute! With their fluffy little bodies, expressive dark eyes, and ridiculously long tails that seem almost too big for them, they’re like tiny punk rockers of the bird world, bouncing with energy and full of personality.
In the wild, long-tailed tits are renowned for their stunningly intricate nests—true marvels of avian architecture. They weave together delicate strands of spider silk to form stretchy, domed structures, which they then line with feathers, moss, and lichen. The result is a soft, elastic cocoon that expands as the chicks grow. It’s an engineering miracle, really—clever, creative, and perfectly suited to their needs.
Sadly, in this case, the nest failed. We don’t know exactly why, but one morning the trio were found on the ground, having tumbled from their woven cradle. It was a close call, but thankfully they were rescued in time.
They were cold and vulnerable, but determined little things—and they’ve bounced back beautifully under Niki’s expert care. They are our first long-tailed tit nestlings since 2023! Our dedicated home carer, Niki, has been doing an absolutely sterling job with their hand-rearing. It’s no small feat; raising wild birds by hand requires extraordinary patience, knowledge, and care, and Niki has gone above and beyond to make sure these little ones get the best possible start.
Now, they’re growing stronger each day. Their soft down is giving way to feathers, their eyes are bright with curiosity, and they chirp eagerly whenever it’s time for a feed. Soon, they’ll be stretching their wings in an aviary, learning to fly with growing confidence and grace. And those long tails? Not just for show—they help the birds balance in flight and, believe it or not, make them appear larger to predators. Nature never stops being amazing.
It won’t be long before these tiny rebels are ready to return to the wild, full of spunk and fluff, ready to make nests of their own someday—hopefully with a bit more luck the next time around. Until then, we’ll keep cheering them on, feather by feather, flutter by flutter.
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