A place to learn, share and inspire others to create a haven for you and for wildlife.
Sign In or Register to join the conversation
We have a female blackbird currently nested down on the lawn, she flys away but comes back to the exact same spot and nests down. Does anyone know why this behaviour is occurring? And why she's not nesting in a tree?
Hi Jess, can you get a picture of her on the lawn?
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Thanks for the pic ... I wonder if she is 'anting' ... a process whereby they gets ants to crawl over & release their formic acid in order to deal with itchy mites? Just one example here, many others if you google ...
therattlingcrow.blogspot.com/.../blackbird-anting.html
That's exactly what I was thinking.
Oh wow I had no Idea they do that! Thank you for the information! She has been doing it for about three days now I was worried she was making it her permanent home.
However after watching the video, she isn't moving about she's litreally lay there as though she's in her nest, she isn't preening or pecking her feathers.
It would be highly unlikely that a blackbird would nest on a lawn, have you examined the spot where she lays, can you see any nesting material or any ants? Is it a sunny spot, could she be sunbathing?
No I know, hence why I was concerned there's no ants that I have seen in that particular area, but she's been there for 3 days now flying too and from the spot, and very early in the morning and then throughout the day. It's not an especially sunny spot but does have sun for a short while in the afternoon. there aren't nesting materials. Maybe she is just anting but I haven't seen her move in the way the video you linked shows. I'll keep an eye out tomorrow for anting behaviour and see. I'm just worried she's going to be caught out by a cat or fox.
I can understand your concern, hopefully she'll be able to see or hear any predators around & fly to safety!