Great news that you were on hand to release lovely Blackbird & good that you posted as a warning to others ... I was guilty of this too last year, using one horizontally as a pastry feeder until it slipped upright & someone warned me about it ...fortunately no birds trapped & I junked it!
Be interesting to see a pic of your new feeder in action, looks a good design!
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eff37 on Flickr
Well done on getting it out. I'd say that was a juvenile male. Maybe it hasn't got the street smarts (garden smarts) of the adults. Just as well the Magpie didn't start attacking it.
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos
(One bush does not shelter two Robins)
Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)
Geez, that poor blackbird must have been terrified. Mind you, don't blame yourself, accidents do happen and I often worry if what we use to feed birds is 'accident proof'. Last year I had a juvenile starling hanging from the regular trays I use on the bird feeding station, it caught its claw in the mesh and was hanging upside down. Thankfully I was around and run to its rescue - the bird flapped and flew before I could get to it.
Congrats on the release!
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"Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way." John Muir
Had the safer 'Donut' feeder up a couple of weeks now. The lid is metal so won't break if it falls.
Nice one. Looks like a good feeder and the bonus is that it's attracted a lovely juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Easily done - we are always wise after the event! And thankfully you were able to rescue the blackbird. Good decision to post on here as we all need reminding to be extra careful sometimes!
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Thanks for posting those pics Mark, gives a good clear view of the feeder & makes me envious of GSW!
I agree with the above comments, well done for posting on here as a warning to others. Your new one certainly looks interesting.
Best wishes
Hazel in Southwest France