Allotments 4 All

Went to pick up OH from work yesterday and parked in the service yard of the local hospital waiting for his shift to finish. Sat in the car watching the mixture of birds scavenge in the waste bins for food, when I became aware of a Blackbird flying off with a beakful of food. Seconds later it was back for a repeat performance. Fascinated, I watched where it flew to, and was amazed to see a fledged baby Blackbird sitting on a wall under a hedge, eagerly taking the food from the parent. It was definitely a baby bird complete with the soft yellow corners to it's beak.
I'm very concerned about it's survival in all this cold weather.

Is this some kind of a record?

It very well could be GS as the earliest I've heard of a blackbird having young out of the nest is the middle of February!!
I just hope the wee thing survives as there is still a long way to go until 'real' spring.

Wow!  Our starlings are already snuggled up in their nest in their ususal place in our roof.

Checked again yesterday afternoon and all is still OK ! I took some birdseed with me and threw it out on the ground as I thought that it might be a change for them from the usual manky sandwiches and stuff that they normally get.

do blackbirds have two nesting seasons?

only i am wondering because last august when it was hot for two weeks, we  had two little blackbirds in the garden, foraging on their own but still supervised by their parents. one of them suffered a heat stroke though (panting away, being oblivious to surroundings, i.e. i could have touched it and it wouldn't have seen me, but probably have had a heart attack). the fox got it early one morning not long after  :-\

Yes, I believe Blackbirds do lay twice in the same year.  Once early in the year and again in the summer.

Saw a couple of baby starlings today in a busy car park :-\...


Debs

I too have a baby blackbird come to feed every morning.  I know it is very young as I can virtually stand next to it and could even pick it up.  It can't wait to feed !

Just to let you know that the baby has survived so far. Saw it this morning feeding itself from the rubbish skips. Looks OK - no parent around.

Thanks for giving us an update Granny - I was just wondering if it had survived to fend for itself. Glad to hear it obviously has.  ;)

Granny, any news on the young blackbird?