One of the fieldfares in our garden has established himself as a "fleldmarshall", attacking any blackbirds, and sometimes others, which try to land.
We are very fond of our blackbirds. Is there anything we can do to stop this one bird hogging the food we put out in these desperate conditions? Even the food on the tables is denied the others by his aggression.
alanc
Try spreading food around the garden a bit so that no bird has the opportunity to hog the feeders.
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
My new fieldfare resident chased off my blackbird today too.. although he seems fine with the redwings and mistle thrush. I've had to create 'zones' in my garden (it's tiny anyway!) by scattering food on the floor so the fieldfare has to hop around to pick it up, allowing the blackbirds time to land.. it seems to work as long as they stick totheir own zone and don't hop near each other.
Yes,as previous contributor says spread it around. Also chop up things like apples small. He can't defend it all.
TJ
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Welcome to the forum, Alan. It's a good place to be.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Welcome to the forum.
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Hello Alan, as you see, you get the answers on here.
Hi Alan, welcome to the forum ;)
Neil
If it aint broken, dont fix it !.... all good things come to those who wait !
KatTai
Thanks for the forum welcome messages, and KatTai for your suggestion - it's a good one. Ours is not a huge garden, and this particular fleldfare sits on the fence (when he's not eating) and watches for any blackbird and swoops to attack immediately it comes into "his territory", as he now clearly views it.
He is so aggressive that this now appears to be his main interest, with food a close second. Is this unusual in birds of the same family? He ignores other birds, especially smaller ones.
Hi!Fieldfares compete with other thrushes in particular for food, and I would guess that this triggers the agression. It is common, (as far as I know) for birds within the same family to behave this way. For example I know robins will not tolerate another robin on their patch, and Blackbirds (especially in the spring, not so much in the winter) will chase off other rival Blackbirds. I once had one see his own reflection in the stainless steel on our barbeque, and he spent nearly an hour trying to attack it! Had to bring the barbeque in in the end!
Welcome to the forum Alan. I see you have already been given good advice so no need for me to add to it.
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!