The past few days I’ve been watching mummy blackbird start building her nest with daddy blackbird standing guard. My questions that I’ve never found the answer to are:
Funny side note irrelevant to the questions: she fills her beak to the brim with all sorts of nesting materials. She even yanked up a recently planted pansy to take the soil from the root (or so I assume, either that or she’s very house proud ). In contrast to this busy little bee, I’ve been watching a wood pigeon build her nest too. She is gone for a good few minutes at a time and comes back with just one piddly twig. It will take her forever She usually goes into the tree at the same entry route, but on the odd occasion she’s got the route wrong, and I can see her tilting her head thinking “where the bloody hell has my nest gone?!”. They’re so funny to watch.
I'm not really going to be able to give you the answer you're looking for.
The wood pigeon will most likely have been carrying the small twig for repair, or perhaps that was all that was required to complete the nest.
If you ever made a den as a child, and most of us will have done (I did as a parent as well with my son), you will have used large and small twigs, branches and other materials as required, even grass, leaves and other things.
Birds and animals will do the same to build their nest and make it cosy and warm for their young.
It is fascinating what and how much birds can carry in their beaks, not just from the size perspective, or weight, but the centre of gravity as well. Have look at the link below, a heron carrying a sizable branch for nest building/repair....
https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/49478627307/in/album-72157712926971693/
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
If it’s either Ivy or Leylandii The Tawny Owl is nesting in. the species of Leylandii would likely be Leyland Cypress. sometimes its just referred to as Leylandii. It is very common. And is commonly used for windbreak and other things aswell
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/blackbird/breeding
Zookeeperkeane said:Thanks everyone! I’m not sure how to reply individually, but: - I never thought about the nests purpose before. It makes total sense! I assumed they had nests all year round, but thinking about it I’ve seen many coming out of vegetation in my garden, or going in at dusk and not popping back out. It’s good to know so I can make my garden even more bird friendly. - The wood pigeon spent 2 full mornings (probably more, I just didn’t see) coming back with just one twig every couple of minutes - bless her sad update though - egg shells were found on the floor below so it looks as though the magpies got to the eggs. On a happier note, I have noticed the usually very angry robin resident has found a love interest and he’s finally stopped chasing off the sparrows. I think they’re nesting next door, fingers crossed for them
Wood pigeons (and other pigeons and doves) are notoriously useless nest builders :)
Zookeeperkeane said:Thanks everyone! I’m not sure how to reply individually, but:
We appreciate the fact that you have acknowledged us in your thank you reply and accept for newcomers it can be a bit daunting trying to navigate your way around. After all, most if not all of us have been down the same route.
Sadly some never manage to make any response.
If you want to reply to each individually, click on the small blue icon with the word Reply in, then select
You can then reply to that persons comment(s) with a quote of what they said, which is very handy if there area a lot of responses.
Michael B said:Zookeeperkeane said:Thanks everyone! I’m not sure how to reply individually, but:
Sadly as you know, "quoting" hardly ever works properly on these Forums