Chicks in letterbox die after Kent County Council worker ignores ‘bird nesting’ warnings in Staple, between Canterbury and Sandwich

Eight chicks died after a clumsy council worker posted a roadworks notice in a letterbox – despite clear warnings the birds were nesting inside.

Lindsey Gorham says she has taken steps to ensure the safety of newborns in their makeshift home in Staple, between Canterbury and Sandwich.

The 61-year-old put tape on the flap of the letter, wrote “breeding birds” on it and even informed the postman to deliver the items elsewhere.

But those measures failed to stop a council worker who issued a notice about daytime drainage works underway more than 10 miles away, in the village of Ripple, near Deal.

This meant the mother bird – which was flying to and from the letterbox – was no longer able to feed her young because the flyer was in the way.

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The Gorhams were distraught when they discovered the chicks’ lifeless bodies.

Kent County Council has since apologized to them and says it was “a real mistake”. But Ms Gorham wants people to be more aware of nesting birds, particularly at this time of year.

She told KentOnline they first discovered the nest with “eight lovely little eggs” in their village farmyard about six weeks ago, while checking the mail.

“We left it alone and decided to glue the mailbox flap and write ‘birds nest’ on it,” the saleswoman explained.

The Gorhams left a small hole open at the top of the mailbox so the mother could go in and out with food, and soon after, the chicks hatched.

When they gently opened the door to check their progress, everything seemed fine.

The couple predicted it was only a matter of time before the young birds were ready to leave the nest.

Their neighbor told them he would watch the chicks while the couple were away from the farm as they live in Aylesham.

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But about three weeks ago, the family of nine birds was down to one.

“Our neighbor said he hadn’t seen the mother recently so we thought they had already left,” Ms Gorham added.

“When I opened the letterbox, the (council) notice was across the nest and covered in dirt where (the mother bird) had tried to lift it off the babies to feed them.

“But it was too much for her, so she left and the chicks died.”

The letter given by KCC concerned drainage works at Sutton Road, Ripple, a 15-minute drive away.

This left the couple wondering why they had received the notice, as the area is “not even close” to their farmyard in Chapel Lane.

“I was really upset because it was such a beautiful bird and the nest must have taken him weeks to build because it was perfect,” Ms Gorham said.

“We told the postman about the nest, so he posted them elsewhere and we wrote ‘nesting birds’ on them to think the chicks would be safe.

“I couldn’t believe anyone couldn’t read it. Either they didn’t care or they couldn’t read.

The determined city worker had managed to insert the notice inside the flap of the letter without breaking the tape.

Ms Gorham added: “I know nothing will come of it and we don’t want anyone to be dragged through the coals, but people need to be aware that birds will be coming into different places – especially during the nesting season.”

She made a formal complaint to KCC and a spokesperson told KentOnline this week: “We have written to the resident to offer our sincere apologies for this incident.

“We want to assure them that this was a genuine mistake and that our staff had no intention of causing harm in any way.”

Great tits are widespread across the country and found in woodland, agricultural and urban areas, according to the RSPB.

It is the largest species of tit in the UK and has a green and yellow body, black head and white cheeks.