| Blackbird |
Tonight on NTV - Black Bird says more seeds landed today. The Dunnock Two surrounded the table. Otherwise an ordinary day.
In praise of the blackbird
The blackbird is good entertainment if watched closely. Not too big, not too small well sized for getting away with a bit of cheek. Not to forget that to them it's life or death. Hey cat, leave those birds alone.
They are always on the look out for food and other birds that may have found food. Also for other blackbirds straying onto their territory. It's more important to chase away an intruding blackbird than to stop other birds eating their food.
Only the Robin beats the Blackbird to food on the birdtable. It may be eating while you are still putting the food out but will run into the bushes if you make a movement towards it. They will eat from some peoples hands. Soft fruit, seeds, bread, cheese will do fine for starters, a worm will be a delight, followed by a spot of water.
They have a loud clear song that is pleasing to hear. They also make quiet clucking and peeping sounds as they bounce about. They often fly away with an alarm call which is loud and hysterical.
You can usually hear Blackbirds in the area, they are marking their territories, seeking partners, communicating with their offspring and partners from a distance and spreading warnings. They are a general gossip.
You may hear a clunk nearby and it is probably a blackbird landing on the fence behind a bush. Balancing with its tail erect. Looking around for danger and thinking there may be food it will make its way to ground level looking round all the time. Seeing the food it will head to a point some way off and not directly in the direction of the food. Then looking around a bit without focussing on the food it will move to another corner of the lawn looking around. When it decides to go for it it will often put beak straight out and head for the food. On reaching the food they may aggressively peck or run under the bushes with a good sized piece. The peck may cause the apple to move and the bird will jump back as if startled. Or they may do a foot shuffle on the seeds looking for the best. They forage under leaves, eat berries from bushes, listen for worms on the lawn, sit near people hoping.
If a suspected bird of prey is seen it will either crouch down or quickly run under a bush. If another blackbird appears it will speed towards it and a flying chase will ensue sometimes 5 birds are chasing each other round usually in Winter. One bird usually concedes but if not a sort of vertical up and down face to face battle happens till one flies away, usually the intruder. Although it will be back, they don't give up.
Their flying ability is spectacular as they weave through narrow gaps in the bushes by twisting their tail and wings and make high speed dives to ward off intruders. They have a habit of keeping quite low and sometimes cross roads fast at radiator height. On a sunny day a blackbird will sit in the soil with its wings out and beak open. It will then go for a bath and empty the water out of the birdbath.
When it is young it may be the same size as the parents but it will stand next to the food and expect the parent to put food into its beak. Sometimes young blackbirds fall out of their nests before they can fly. They then hide in the bushes and parents bring them food.
If a cat is hiding in the bushes they will often make a big fuss by perching or hovering nearby making the alarm call till the cat moves on.
Blackbirds often have Dunnocks following probably because it's leading them towards food also perhaps for some cover.
They can have 3 sets of young in a good year. In winter, birds from overseas arrive in the UK and compete for food.
