Hi, Was so excited when a Blackbird built a nest in my Honeysuckle in my small garden. My cats are past caring about catching anything so that was a bonus. 4 eggs were laid and hatched and they were fed regularly for about 4 days. Today - no babies! Can't be the cats as they were in all night. There seems to be a lot of Jays and squirrels around here so that may be the problem. Is there any method that would allow the Blackbirds access to the nest but prevent Jays and squirrels? Any ideas please. Thanks. Chris.
Hi Chris, and welcome to the RSPB Forum. Enjoy yourself here
Great news about the Blackbird nest, and the nest eggs bring produced
I think in this case the Blackbirds have choosen an exposed nest site, and as you say a Magpie, squirrel etc,.. may have eaten the eggs.
Blackbirds are not the tidest nest builders and can be a little stroppy where they do nest
i.e. building a nest half way up a small bush will do for a Blackbird.
Anyway it is best that the birds move on and try again (it is not too late) and hopefully raise a family elsewhere.
Best to let nature go its normal way
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi Chris and welcome to the forum,
What a shame about your blackbird babies. I'm so sorry, but it's nature and you have to console yourself by remembering the bird who took the chicks needed food for his own brood somewhere. Hopefully the parents will try again somewhere safer.There is nothing you can do.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hello Chris,Welcome to Communities, I do hope you enjoy it! It is always really exciting to find birds nesting in your garden, it is fascinating to watch them build their nest an rear their young. Sadly not all eggs hatch or survive. There are many predators that may take eggs or young from nests and squirrels and jays are some of them.
You can help the birds in your garden by planting climbers such as ivy and honeysuckle, and dense shrubs such as hawthorn. You can also protect songbird nests with mesh wire netting. For larger birds, such as blackbirds, three-inch mesh can be used (but jays may be able to get through this). A rectangle of wire fitted above the nest has also been successful. Magpies are wary of traps, so it is possible that just the presence of netting over a nest is sufficient to put them off. Old rusty netting is best, but new netting can be camouflaged with streaks of green and black paint (please allow this to dry before putting in position).
The best time to protect a nest is probably during incubation and certainly as soon as the eggs hatch. Many small birds may desert a nest if disturbed during building; only the most severe upheaval will cause a bird to desert a nest with young in it. Nests are also more vulnerable once the young have hatched.
Take heart in the fact that Blackbirds can have to 4 broods in one breeding season, so hopefully this pair may try again, in hopefully a more secure place.
Claire
Jennifer T said: Hello Chris,Welcome to Communities, I do hope you enjoy it! It is always really exciting to find birds nesting in your garden, it is fascinating to watch them build their nest an rear their young. Sadly not all eggs hatch or survive. There are many predators that may take eggs or young from nests and squirrels and jays are some of them. You can help the birds in your garden by planting climbers such as ivy and honeysuckle, and dense shrubs such as hawthorn. You can also protect songbird nests with mesh wire netting. For larger birds, such as blackbirds, three-inch mesh can be used (but jays may be able to get through this). A rectangle of wire fitted above the nest has also been successful. Magpies are wary of traps, so it is possible that just the presence of netting over a nest is sufficient to put them off. Old rusty netting is best, but new netting can be camouflaged with streaks of green and black paint (please allow this to dry before putting in position). The best time to protect a nest is probably during incubation and certainly as soon as the eggs hatch. Many small birds may desert a nest if disturbed during building; only the most severe upheaval will cause a bird to desert a nest with young in it. Nests are also more vulnerable once the young have hatched. Take heart in the fact that Blackbirds can have to 4 broods in one breeding season, so hopefully this pair may try again, in hopefully a more secure place. Claire
By the way, as I am new to the site I hit 'reply' on the e-mail and then realised I shouldn't so you may also get this answer in e-mail. Sorry about that.
Kind regards,
Chris.
Hi Kathy & Dave,
Thanks for your amazingly prompt reply - had 2 other replies as well. My garden is small (40' x 16') and stuffed with plants so very secluded. Large birds don't seem interested in getting in, apart from the Jays and Pigeons. Mrs. T. on your site has suggested wire netting which I may give a go. Many thanks for your advice.
Best wishes,
Many thanks for your prompt reply - amazing site.
Best wishes, Chris.