This year a pair of blackbirds have decided to nest on our terrace, on a beam in the roof facing the kitchen door. The first brood, unfortunately one of our terriers found at least one fledgling and possibly two.
Yesterday the second brood fledged and we've got three, maybe four, tail-less, fat balls of feathers within a matter of feet of our dogs. We are keeping the dogs in and walking them on leads to see if this time we can save the brood.
This new regime does not thrill the dogs as they normally go in and out at will.
I'd be grateful for some information please.
How long are the fledglings unable to fly? Ie when will they be safe (ish)?
I understand blackbirds can have three, maybe even four, broods up to the end of July. If we move the nest now, before they start laying the next batch of eggs, will they nest elsewhere? Or just rebuild the nest in the same place. They could not have chosen a worse place!
Thanks for any information. Sue
Hi Sue, sorry for your problems with dogs & BB fledglings but thanks for caring about their survival! Have you uploaded your vid to You tube? You will need to do this first then copy the URL to be able to post of here for ID ... unfortunately this is not one of those forums where you can upload vids directly!
Hello Wendy, thanks for the information. Yes it is on Youtube, so I'm trying now ... https://youtu.be/Hmgf7tkPMOs Not sure if this has worked, so may need help to get it right please. If anyone has the stamina to watch / listen, firstly apologies for the shaky camera work at the beginning! The moments when you can hear this noise are roughly; 26 secs, 46 secs, 1.01 min, 1.15 min, 1.27 min 1.38 min, 2.08 min, 2.23 min Thanks for any thoughts / suggestions as to what is making this sound.
By the way, we are in south west France, surrounded by fields. The field behind the trees has ripe wheat in it.
Sue J said:Thanks for any thoughts / suggestions as to what is making this sound
Hi Sue, I reckon that's a Common Quail. I've heard the call many times in Europe but never actually manage to see one.
Sue J said:By the way, we are in south west France, surrounded by fields. The field behind the trees has ripe wheat in it.
They will be skulking in the wheat fields so very difficult if not impossible to see. Here's a recording.
Play this audio clip
Gerard OLIVIER, XC112569. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/112569.