Topic: BlackBird

[Jayb]

Well good news and sad.
First the sad, the wonderful blackbird that has kept me company around the garden the last three or four years is missing in action. He is missed very much here, I got so used to him singing away in all his favourite spots and coming to me to demand food whenever hungry that the garden seems empty without him.

The good news is he was a daddy and although didn't see them fledge, he luckily showed his misses it was ok to come for food at the table and also the feeder on the window which used to have his favourite treats in. Although she is no where near as tame or friendly she does come quite close and I think the extra food must have helped her in her lone parenting of 4 chicks.

First I knew about them nesting was back at the beginning of April. In my poly-tunnel, on the table I 'was' using for potting and seed sowing I noticed a blackbirds nest. The nest was at the front of the table facing into the polyT, although nestled between stacks of pots and trays it was hardly well hidden! I kept pretty much out of the tunnel so not to disturb them, just popping in now and again to water a few things. It's been a bit frustrating as I've really wanted to get on and prepare the borders for planting.

First photo is of him last year, he looks such a scruffy boy here, I think he was getting on a bit as he took ages to feather up, he also had long whiskery feathers that extended half way along his beak, it made him look an old gent!
Second is of her sitting in a favourite spot and the third her sitting on the newly made nest.

[Jayb]

Chicks at a few days, all doing well.

[galina]

3 or 4 years - that is a very good innings for a blackbird!  From observation here most only go for 2 years.  Similarly song thrushes.  As their songs are so unique, it is easy to recognise them by their melodies.

Hope you can reclaim your poly (ten minutes at a time should not disturb them too much).

ps:  lovely pictures

[Jayb]

Yes luckily I have it back now and can get on with a few things 


In fact it was amazing how quickly they grew, the above photo was taken on the 21/4 and these on 26/4. So in 5 days the nest becomes quite overcrowded

[Jayb]

And here just a few days later ready to leave the nest. Although not visible there are still four chicks in the nest, not bad going as only mum feeding them for the last five or six days. One was a little reluctant to leave the nest but mummy seemed to tempt him out. They spent another 3-4 days rummaging around the poly-tunnel and being fed by mum, before moving out to the safety of an overgrown hedge nearby.

[Ellen K]

Is this the bird who made a nest in the poly last year but took fright and abandoned it?

[Jayb]

No it is a different female blackbird. The previous one we think flew into a window and died trying to avoid a sparrow hawk at the end of last summer.
Same male Blackbird though and they met up last autumn/winter, he could often be seen almost calling her in to feed when I put some out. He would ether land at my feet and wait for his food or fly to the table where I normally put the food. She was really shy at first but was soon feeding while I was still standing there.

[Ellen K]

Oh, it's a tough life being a Blackbird.  But Mum looks to be an older bird with her yellow beak.  Perhaps old enough to appreciate the safety inside, enough to be brave about the risk.

I love Blackbirds.

[Jayb]

Yes she does look an older bird doesn't she, she is a pretty girl and quite distinctive to the other girls seen in the garden at the moment. I think you are right, she definitely had the experience to manage raising the chicks when left on her own. She is still hard at feeding, though I've not seen any of fledglings since they left the poly. I'm pretty sure she has started nest building too as she is carrying bits about. Busy, busy, busy!

Love black birds too  except for when they raid my tomatoes!

[tilts]

He might have another woman somewhere else?

[caroline7758]

I loved the blackbirds in my garden until this year when I watched one of them digging for worms and completely digging out the sedum in a large pot on my patio- soil and plants everywhere! Maybe the soil elsewhere was too hard- I've never seen this before.

[Jayb]

He might have another woman somewhere else?

It would be nice to think he is alive somewhere  but I don't think he would have left his chicks as he was very dutiful, I can't imagine him leaving his favourite spots in the garden or endless free food on demand either!

[Jayb]

Oh dear Caroline, that does sounds like they made a bit of a mess, perhaps there weren't just worms in the pot and they were going after something else as well? They do seem to be able to turn over quite large pieces of bark or twigs.

[Jayb]

Feeding duties, it's amazing how much she carries in one beak-full!

[RenewableCandy]

They don't half spread the compost about when I've put it out under trees. Oh well.

Meanwhile, there appears to be a blackbird nest, complete with 4 eggs, on our plot. First time I saw it the bird was sitting in it, subsequent 3 times I've only seen the nest plus eggs, no bird, I just hope I haven't scared her off. I can't know without taking a look, which I don't want to do for fear of scaring her off permanently. Observer interfering with the experiment and all that.

Anyone know how long eggs take to hatch plus fledgelings to, er, fledge?

[Jayb]

They can make an awful mess can't they!

Eggs I believe hatch at 14 days or just under which is also the same time needed incredibly for the birds to fledge. It seems an unbelievable rate of growth and it was amazing to watch just how quickly they progress. They young birds then stay around for a few weeks with the parents who still feed them for this time and show them the ropes as it were.

[Jayb]

This female has indeed raised another brood, the nest is around the shed somewhere I think, though I've not tried to she where. I've not sure as to the age of the chicks but both parents are feeding them. It's an amazing conveyor belt, the female is already building another nest, in my poly-tunnel again!!!! She must think it's a nice spot, this time she is at the far end in amongst the branches and leaves of a Kiwi Isaiah. I guess she may change her mind and go somewhere else, but she seemed quite relaxed with me potting up seedlings this morning, as she went about gathering material for her nest amongst the tomato plants.

Pictures not very good.

[Digeroo]

They are getting scarce round here.  We used to have several.   Better not start ranting about red kites again.

We normally have a nest somewhere in the garden, not sure if there is one this year.  That will be a first for a very long time.  We normally have at least two.  They often choose the fruit  bushes which is very opportune for them since, they can raid it right next to the nest.

We had a black one with a brown head for some years.  Never could work out if it was a male or female and before that we had one with a white head.  Pretty sure that was a female.

House martin are very messy too, it plops on you from above.  The young them put their bums out of the nest and poo as well.

[Jayb]

She's still hard at it, I see her all around the garden foraging for food for her latest brood in the poly-tunnel. She's just dropped a suet pellet and I reckon she is trying to work out if she can fit it back in with all the rest in her beak!

[galina]

That's funny!  Normally you see them with about 6 wriggling worms hanging out either side of their beak.  Her beak is well full