Found our visiting tree creeper dead :(

[scarymonster]

It had been visiting for a few days but I was concerned that yesterday it was feeding on our tree and not flying away when we walked past or taking any notice of us even when we were quite close. It looked as though it was feeding ok, getting it's beak into the gaps in the bark and eating the contents but something did not seem right. I lost sight of it as it was getting dark and hoped it had flown off and I was just being paranoid.

Then today I found the remains of a small bird near to the tree and can only assume it is it by the quite large feet for a small bird. It is a fresh 'body', whats left of it as I can see some blood.

This is now the 3rd bird I have lost since the cold spell. It was such a lovely little creature too.

It had not eaten any of the meal worms I had stuck in the bark so looks like another one with a specialised diet that I can not supply food for. Perhaps it's usual food source has been affected by the very cold weather we had and it starved.

[tcvarlh]

They don't seem to last long, 'mine' shuffled off last winter much to my dismay. Perhaps it is the lack of specific food, or maybe just the cold. Shame tho'
h

[RKB]

Treecreepers have quite small feet - they are very pale pinkish with long curved claws. The feathrs are quite distinctive though. If you post a pic of some big feathers we could i.d. the species.

[scarymonster]

Hi RKB,

When I was watching him on the tree, his feet seemed large relative to his little body. I was so close I could hear his little scamper as he moved around the trunk. There is not much left of the bird and not enough feathers that I recognise. I've seen him everyday but not today, so I am just putting 2 and 2 together here. If he turns up tomorrow I will be over the moon but after my recent losses in the garden I am not holding out much hope.

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by tcvarlh

They don't seem to last long, 'mine' shuffled off last winter much to my dismay. Perhaps it is the lack of specific food, or maybe just the cold. Shame tho'
h

Facts about treecreepers from my BirdGuides CDrom:

Food
Bark-living insects, spiders and their larvae.

Behaviour
Being so small, Treecreepers are particularly susceptible to heat loss on cold winter's nights but it has been shown that sometimes they may save heat by roosting communally to 'keep each other warm'.

[actionfinch]

Intresting little birds and the way the start from the botom of a tree and work up then down to the next tree and do it all over again. i was lucky to see 2 today and last week i see one very close ..( i was in a hide mind) , but just watching it work was brilliant.