We had the pleasure of watching a blackbird and her partner flying into our ivy with mouths full of food for their chicks....we could hear the chicks every time a parent went in.
After a couple of days the male wasn't seen again.
The female carried on doing a sterling job continually feeding the young...and again we could hear the chicks as she flew into the nest.
However, the past two nights...there has been a 'gathering' of up to six other blackbirds... watching from the roofs / trees in the area...some times flying down to the fence just near the nest.
The female has chased them off if she's near and we've still seen her go into the nest...but there doesn't seem to be as much 'commotion' from the chicks when she goes in.
What's going on?
Are they trying to kill the chicks? Have they killed the chicks?