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This is the Blackbird nest I have in the climber in my front garden. It is situated underneath my open kitchen window. This means that the female Blackbird sitting on the eggs, gets regular updates of 'The Archers' on Radio 4 from my kitchen. The nest is only about 4 feet from the ground and in not very dense cover.
Lovely as it is to have a nest with 5 eggs in my garden, I can't help but be morbidly pessimistic about the chances of survival. I mean - the gardens and courtyard here are like a bird version of Afghanistan. Only yesterday, I witnessed a Crow pull off a dastardly raid on a Woodpigeon's nest. It was a nest that I hadn't previously noticed, hidden in the large conifer that covers my car with pollen about this time of year.
The Crow, ninja like, sneaked in. There was a spectacular racket, the Woodpigeon exited in panic and, a few moments later, the Crow flew off again with an egg in its beak. Swift and murderous. I've also already seen one Blackbird's nest predated out the back this year, so I'm a bit twitchy about the family I have in my climber.
Fingers crossed.
On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it - Jules Renard
I hope it all works out for the Blackbird Corri great photo by the way .
Cheers
AL
If its no fun Yer no doin it right!
In reply to AL:
Cheers, AL - if the brood survives, I'll try and put regular photoes on here as they grow.
Colin.
In reply to Corriepaw:
HI Corriepaw, I do so hope they make it, keep us posted. As they are right under your kitchen window, it would be lovely for you to be able to watch their development. Up close and personal!.
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
You never know you may be lucky with it being under the window, as that may put preditors off and if the windows doesn't The Archers might obviously the Blackbird is of a higher intelligence and enjoys the story line
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
In reply to JudiM:
Thanks Kezmo and JudiM,
I'm hoping for luck, yes. Good point about Radio 4. It does appear to be an acquired taste and I've only acquired it the last couple of years, as my trendy thirties have given way to my gardening and jigsaw puzzle forties. I do listen to Radio 5 live a lot, too, so any potential predators who aren't big on sport may also give the nest a miss. To be honest - I'll use either weapon if it means the Blackbirds raise a healthy brood of five. That would be gleaming!
Hi corriepaw
That's a very good photo of a blackbirds nest. I think we should be optimistic and just hope for the best.
Fingers crossed
Best wishes Chris
Click Here to see my photos
Hi Corriepaw,
Just catching up on some threads. Brilliant photo. How's the family?
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
In reply to Sparrow:
Hi Sparrow,
The family of 5 eggs are still being brooded. I'm sure that they will hatch tomorrow or the day after and have my camera on the sidelines, ready for the new arrivals.
I was aware of a family of your namesake in the neighbour's Conifer tree but, as so often happens, I think the House sparrow nest was predated. It must have been, because I glanced out of my bedroom window and saw that the Conifer had sprouting out of it,masses of straw, grasses, feathers and bits of plastic. It looked like an old sofa with the stuffing hanging out and it seems to me that either the Jackdaws, Magpies or Jay have come along and made short work of the nest and its occupants.
It's a shame, but nothing's wasted - House Sparrows have spent most of today taking bits of the nest and flying off with beaks crammed full. Maybe it is the same pair, trying again in a different location or maybe second broods are being started.
Corriepaw
"Lovely as it is to have a nest with 5 eggs in my garden, I can't help but be morbidly pessimistic about the chances of survival."
Oh Colin! This isn't like you! You promised to share ugly baby photos with me (and post better pics, you rat!) so no thinking like this!!
I suppose we must be prepared for losing our beloved blackbird families but I insist on you looking on the bright side for now.
I look forward to your first post of the little alien hatchlings very soon.
Big hug and a big smile
Pipit xxx
Good news the eggs are still there. Keep us informed.
Poor sparrows, but they will have another go.
I think most of my sparrow colony have produced their first broods. I had about 25 who spent the days in my garden and nested in the eaves of a house I can see from my upstairs back window. Since arriving back from hols on Sunday I have been glued to the back windows because my colony is now 40 plus. I have fledged sparrows all over the place and they are eating me out of house and home. I have 2 x metre long 6 port feeders of sunflower hearts meant for the finches, but today the sparrows have emptied one and half the other. This is in addition to the scattered mealworms and my own seed mix that I provide in other hangers. They are also using the peanut feeder, fat balls and suet tub. They were all there when I got up this morning and were still there at 7pm. The garden was like a sparrow aviary! Beautiful to watch and to listen to.