The redstarts returned briefly 26 hours later, but were put off by the more narrow aperture. It was quickly enlarged again but they did not return.
The sparrows are around as usual, but have lost interest in the nesting box now that the action of the redstarts is over. One wonders whether it was plain envy (as observed/ suggested in the 'Bird Cottage' by Eva Meijer). The video footage (not shown as it is disturbing) shows the chicks are trown out but not eaten or moved out of the enclosure. Also, there are no signs of the sparrows starting a nest after the raids on 18.05.2025.
The nest is over. The two remaining eggs that had been cold for 50 hours have been removed.
Maybe the redstarts will start over, it is said that they sometimes breed twice in a season. But they may relocate. The aperture has been modified to an oval, 28 mm x 55 mm, reported as ideal for redstarts. Possibly it will block sparrows should the redstarts move in again.
