Blackbird nesting
Discussion
We have a small rear garden/patio, just outside the kitchen door, and the fence opposite the house is covered with ivy, which I keep trimmed neatly and makes a pleasant green backdrop. Our resident blackbirds have decided to nest in there. We haven't been out there much in the last week or two as the weather has not been great, but in the high summer we spend a lot of time at the garden table, as it is a very pleasant sun trap.
The female blackbird has been very busy all week and has built a perfect little cup (about the size of half a coconut) and has lined this with mud, finishing it off with a cobwebby layer of fine dry grass and twigs. An amazing construction. It is about head high and only four or five feet from the table and some fifteen feet from the kitchen door.
Now she obviously knows we are about, and I also know she has spotted our cat sunning himself for an hour this week. It surprises me that she has gone to all this work on a nest that must be a bit dubious in her eyes. I love blackbirds, and the male is quite friendly, and will sit happily by our feeding station within an arm's length of me, and hop around my feet if I am working in the garden. But the female never does this and is much more reclusive.
I have a horrible feeling this morning that after going to all this trouble they have abandoned the nest, as I haven't seen them visiting it at all. I would be quite happy to stay out of their way for a while if they do breed, but I understand the young get kicked out before they are independent and have to be fed on the ground for a week or so. Perhaps when they clocked the cat, they had second thoughts.
I have been thinking about putting a small feeding station out there, perhaps with some meal worms, to encourage them. Has anyone had any experience of this and can offer advice on how to make them feel welcome?
The female blackbird has been very busy all week and has built a perfect little cup (about the size of half a coconut) and has lined this with mud, finishing it off with a cobwebby layer of fine dry grass and twigs. An amazing construction. It is about head high and only four or five feet from the table and some fifteen feet from the kitchen door.
Now she obviously knows we are about, and I also know she has spotted our cat sunning himself for an hour this week. It surprises me that she has gone to all this work on a nest that must be a bit dubious in her eyes. I love blackbirds, and the male is quite friendly, and will sit happily by our feeding station within an arm's length of me, and hop around my feet if I am working in the garden. But the female never does this and is much more reclusive.
I have a horrible feeling this morning that after going to all this trouble they have abandoned the nest, as I haven't seen them visiting it at all. I would be quite happy to stay out of their way for a while if they do breed, but I understand the young get kicked out before they are independent and have to be fed on the ground for a week or so. Perhaps when they clocked the cat, they had second thoughts.
I have been thinking about putting a small feeding station out there, perhaps with some meal worms, to encourage them. Has anyone had any experience of this and can offer advice on how to make them feel welcome?
Roofless Toothless said:
I have been thinking about putting a small feeding station out there, perhaps with some meal worms, to encourage them. Has anyone had any experience of this and can offer advice on how to make them feel welcome?
By increasing the food supply you will encourage more birds to come to your garden which may make it too busy for the blackbirds to resume nesting. I'd suggest that the best way to encourage them to return would be to get rid of your cat (joke)!TR4man said:
By increasing the food supply you will encourage more birds to come to your garden which may make it too busy for the blackbirds to resume nesting. I'd suggest that the best way to encourage them to return would be to get rid of your cat (joke)!
Never a truer word said in jest, unfortunately. 
If your cat goes for birds, then it's in the birds' interest for you to not make them welcome in your garden IMO - or at least if you want them in there put in some nesting boxes well out of range so they can make a house safely.
The cat is 15 and couldn't catch a cold now days, but I don't suppose the birds know that! Generally he just passes through this area, but when it is very warm he does sun himself out there as the paving stones heat up.
Sadly, I think you could be right. Since I have lived in this house, though, the biggest threat to nesting birds has come from a local gang of magpies, who cleared out all the nesting tits from a large Leylandii next door that overhangs my garden (that's another story ... ) and who still haven't come back after two years.
Sadly, I think you could be right. Since I have lived in this house, though, the biggest threat to nesting birds has come from a local gang of magpies, who cleared out all the nesting tits from a large Leylandii next door that overhangs my garden (that's another story ... ) and who still haven't come back after two years.
My set make several nests each year and then pick one. I’ve noticed them do it for the last 3 years at least. They appear to have settled on the same one as they year before last this time. I have zero clue as to what goes into the decision making process.....may be the same with yours?
Personally I reckon they are well aware of the danger level of your cat. We have 4 cats which regularly use our garden as a cut through. 2 of them generate the usual major alarm calls from the starlings and the blackbird....the other two don’t. In fact one of them can have a snooze in the garden and the birds happily carry on feeding! Our old cat was bullied mercilessly by everything that lived in the garden too. She did once catch a leaf she was very proud of tho
Personally I reckon they are well aware of the danger level of your cat. We have 4 cats which regularly use our garden as a cut through. 2 of them generate the usual major alarm calls from the starlings and the blackbird....the other two don’t. In fact one of them can have a snooze in the garden and the birds happily carry on feeding! Our old cat was bullied mercilessly by everything that lived in the garden too. She did once catch a leaf she was very proud of tho
Nightmare said:
My set make several nests each year and then pick one. I’ve noticed them do it for the last 3 years at least. They appear to have settled on the same one as they year before last this time. I have zero clue as to what goes into the decision making process.....may be the same with yours?
Personally I reckon they are well aware of the danger level of your cat. We have 4 cats which regularly use our garden as a cut through. 2 of them generate the usual major alarm calls from the starlings and the blackbird....the other two don’t. In fact one of them can have a snooze in the garden and the birds happily carry on feeding! Our old cat was bullied mercilessly by everything that lived in the garden too. She did once catch a leaf she was very proud of tho
Personally I reckon they are well aware of the danger level of your cat. We have 4 cats which regularly use our garden as a cut through. 2 of them generate the usual major alarm calls from the starlings and the blackbird....the other two don’t. In fact one of them can have a snooze in the garden and the birds happily carry on feeding! Our old cat was bullied mercilessly by everything that lived in the garden too. She did once catch a leaf she was very proud of tho
Yes, our old boy sits in the front garden with birds hopping all around him. He turns around and makes out like he hasn't seen them, trying to rescue his pride!
Interesting observation about blackbirds building a choice of nests, though, I hadn't thought of that. No sign of any visits today. I was wondering whether they get the nest ready (like doing up the box room as a nursery when the Mrs is expecting) and then waiting for the time to come.
For a retired old boy like me, I get much pleasure watching the wild life on my own doorstep. Sometimes I wonder why David Attenborough ever bothered going all over the world.
Roofless Toothless said:
I have a horrible feeling this morning that after going to all this trouble they have abandoned the nest, as I haven't seen them visiting it at all. I would be quite happy to stay out of their way for a while if they do breed, but I understand the young get kicked out before they are independent and have to be fed on the ground for a week or so. Perhaps when they clocked the cat, they had second thoughts.
Ours was out of the nest over the weekend being fed on the ground, have you seen them getting food for the little one? We've got mum and dad blackbird constantly getting food for the chick (who is about as big as they are) who is hidden up under a bush most of the time.We don't get cats luckily.
Not seen them go after eggs, not saying they don't but seen them go after chicks on the ground and before you can get there they have the chick in bits and are flying off.
They will also try to raid nests they can get at or think they can, house martins near me are often targets and I suppose they have had the unsuccessful fledglings over the years.
They will also try to raid nests they can get at or think they can, house martins near me are often targets and I suppose they have had the unsuccessful fledglings over the years.
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