Blue Tits and flowering currants. It has been known since 1917 that Blue Tits Parus caeruleus feed on the nectar of the flowering currant Ribes sanguineum, which flowers from February to April. The tit pecks a 1-mm to 2-mm oval hole in the base of the flower tube, sometimes tearing off part of the corolla, and drinks the nectar, spending only a few seconds at each flower before moving on. Such feeding continues for only ½-2 minutes, so it is easily overlooked, or misinterpreted as foraging for insects. To determine the frequency of the habit, readers who have both Blue Tits and flowering currants in their gardens are requested to check for nectar-feeding and to inspect the flowers for damage by tits. Positive and negative reports are needed from as many places as possible. Information on tits taking nectar from other flowers would also be of interest. Please send details to Dr Susan Fitzpalrick, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Newtown abbey, Co. Antrim BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland. 

Volume: 
Issue 2
Start Page: 
101
Display Image: 

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