We are lucky that we have all sorts of birds that visit the garden. However one favourite is a blackbird that will take sultanas from out of our hands. He has even brought down his young to feed as well and if we don't come out with the food quick enough for him he will fly up and down the patio window!! He also sits up on the shed and sings most days,a joy to listen to. Recently though we have heard him making this sort of screeching noise, eeeeeeeeeeeeeccckkkkkk !!! He has no young at the moment so can't be calling them. Anyone have any idea whether this call has a purpose.
I don't know about the call, but it's entirely possible he does have a second brood about to fledge as the first brood will just about be independent by now.
I've just learnt how to post photos so here are some of our blackbird !
(http://i53.tinypic.com/29cuijb.jpg) Feeding Young
(http://i55.tinypic.com/2lllhqw.jpg) Begging !!
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2wcmpfa.jpg) Taking sultanas from hand
Lucky you, and terrific photos! Blackbirds, especially the females, are often overlooked but are lovely birds.
That noise it makes is possibly a warning to intruders.
Usually when he is feeding his young he will take the first sultanas and eat them himself, then collect a couple on his beak and fly off. For the past week he has just been eating them all himself so unsure if he is calling to young.
Another bird we loved was a long tailed tit which kept landing on our windows and staring in. As the windows had no curtains at the time I think they were warning off intruders ie their reflections. Managed to take some lovely photos of them as well.
What lovely pics. :)
We have one that comes into our garden, but unfortunately he keeps going into the wife's flower tubs after bugs or worms and scatters the contents everywhere, :)
I think that your Blackbird is making the screeching noise to get your attention so you give him some food!
I feed our Blackbirds on the bird table and if the food bowl is empty the male Blackbird makes this sort of noise to get my attention. I feed mine dry cat biscuits which are soaked in water to make them soft
Our Blackbirds also make this type of noise if our stripey cat (very large Bengal breed) is about
We have a blackbird and his missus feeding a young one.They are my favourite bird and the most hard working.
First in the morning and last in the evening.
Well I haven't been about since I saw this thread. Been too busy 'training' the blackbirds. Husband saw the pics on here. Currents on ground for a while, then on table and then on hand. One 'teenager' blackbird now lands on our fence and calls to be fed. He now eats out of my husband's hand, my hand (have video but don't know how to post) and my daughter's hand too, whilst she sunbathes. This evening, the young blackbird was eating off my hand being watched by an adult, possibly DADDY. He then swooped down and took some currents which were about 12 inches away from my hand, so he'll be next. :D. So thankyou Fitzsie for the inspiration.
Fitzsie,
I am not to say that these things happen, but if the sound that you heard is similar to the call of the parent to attract the young to take food, then it most likely is a parent. Trouble is that the local cat and wildlife have to take the young before they become aware of the dangers, so the parent calls to no avail.
I am sorry to be the barer of bad news, but it has happened to us in our garden.
A cat worked out how to get into the nest, not anymore though. I have put some more pyracantha in.