Latest news from our beloved blackbirds’ nest, which they’ve made in the ivy just outside our window: a youngster is visible today! At present we can only see one. It’s opening its mouth, wanting food, while mum seems to be quite aloof. That’s because it’s dad who is bringing all the food in. Baby blackbirds don’t seem to call for food as many other nestlings do. I think I know why that is…..
“It’s most interesting to see the different breeding strategies of the various bird species unfold in the spring. The sparrows, for instance, have multiple chicks in their broods and so can cope more easily with losing one or two; in the flock they have many eyes looking in many directions to protect many fledglings: they and other small birds like blue-tits use the ‘large numbers’ breeding model.
“But the blackbirds nesting in this garden tend to end up with just two or sometimes only one fledgling; they have no other blackbirds looking out for them. As a result they’re highly protective of each individual.”
from ‘Rewilding An Urban Garden: An Illustrated Diary of Nature’s Year’.
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