A few weeks ago I added a new feeder to my garden, a holder into which jars of food resembling bird-friendly peanut butter are screwed. (See the excellent livingwithbirds.com website if you're interested). Its clearly designed for smaller birds and I've had regular visits from Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed tits - so a great success.
About a week ago I noticed the rate of use had increased considerably and after paying close attention I saw that a male Blackbird had worked out how to get up to it and hang on long enough to help himself. Its the first time I can recall seeing a Blackbird on any of my off-the-ground feeders. And this morning he served up a real treat. He turned up in the garden with his wife and child, and then proceeded to perform his aerobatic antics and feed the juvenile with his hard-gotten gains!
No doubt now the whole family will be at it, and I'll be even more out of pocket - but seriously it was a lovely sight to see and has made my day.
Regards
Ian
Oop sorry, not intended as a question
A lovely story Ian, they can be clever cookies! You best get stocked up to feed the blackbird family and other clever ones!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I think his ingenuity deserves a reward!
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos
(One bush does not shelter two Robins)
Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)
I have blackbirds that nest nextdoor, well did, and use to come through the tiny gap in the fence to feed and if the birds had eaten the ground food then he use to climb on to the birdtable roof to shimmy down the post so he could reach the food on the bird table and Mrs Blackbird soon followed Mr Blackbird. never saw the young, I am assuming they will be back next spring.