In all the years I have been recording bird numbers in my gardens for BTO Garden Birdwatch, I have never seen Blackbirds in the numbers we have had during the last week. I recorded 17 birds, mostly juveniles, all at once on our front lawn.
Has anyone else seen them in such numbers?
Not in my garden. We have one male and one female and that's it. Not even any juveniles. The pair are very territorial and quickly see off every other blackbird. They've never successfully raised chicks in our garden either thanks to a magpie wrecking the nests or a cat getting too close. Grrr....
Make the most of today because, unlike Sky+, there isn't a rewind button.
Yes larger numbers this year, three males who chase each other at the drop of a hat and an indeterminant number, four plus, of the females.
We feed them on small currants when they come up on the window ledge or the dustbin demanding food.
However, their favourite food is the fruit from our large number of strawberris, raspberries, currants, blueberries, brambles, apples and plums.
Same here, I have 2 pairs which visit the garden , as I love to watch the blackbirds having a bath, they look like they really enjoy it. Not seen any juveniles recently either, hopefully that will change & they increase in numbers.
Have quite a few blackbirds in my garden including juveniles, but my Mum has 15+ on a daily basis and during the breeding season, she feeds them soaked sultanas (soaked in boiling water to soften them) but if the bowl outside is empty, then there are 4 or 5 individuals who have taken to helping themselves in the kitchen!!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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Marjus - that photo is superb - cheeky or what!
Skyebird - this year I have had two pairs (previous years it has only been one pair and a spare "male") but although they have clearly both raised young - much to-ing and fro-ing with food by both pairs - I have not seen the juveniles. However, it is quite possible that they "parked" out of site awaiting their food deliveries.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
I have a "Bird bath" too, it was actually meant to be for drinking from but several species, blackbirds included use it also for bathing.
The young of the first brood were killed by a magpie, the second clutch were fine and four at a time were fed by daddy - we had a suspicion that he was a single parent, never saw him with a female, and he looked run ragged, so much so we called him scruff. He was the most importunate and regular about getting currants, stuffing up to 14 in his beak at once, plus a worm.