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Poor Little Early Bird

lily2

By lily2

25 comments


I first saw this little baby blackbird and his Mum yesterday in my front garden

I had no idea the birds were so advanced, I imagined they were still in the egg laying process.
The other baby was happily finding his own food but this one just followed his Mum around demanding to be fed.

…..more please!

I’ve kept an on and off watch today hoping for some better photos and just had the perfect shot lined up, Mum and both babies being fed AND near to the house as well. Just about to click when up onto the windowsill jumps Daisy and away fly the birds! :o(( Oh well better luck next time I thought.

Around 6.30 this evening a threatening magpie caused a big rumpus. While we were watching (Daisy too) one of the babies flew straight into the window we were looking out of. What a shock it gave us all…….not to mention the poor bird.
Poor little thing was lying dazed on the gravel. I held him in my hands until he stirred then I put him just under a bush where I could see him from indoors. No sign of the parents so after a while I went back out and picked him up again which made him struggle and squawk. This immediately alerted Dad to his whereabouts so I went indoors again and left them to it and 15 minutes later there was no sign of either.

We’re advised not to interfere but I do hope I did the right thing and that Daisy doesn’t come in later with him in her mouth. I haven’t let her out yet but will have to do so soon.

Poor little early bird.

Here’s Mum, I do hope I see her with 2 babies tomorrow.

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Comments

 

Your blackbirds are certainly early with their babies. I hope the little family are all OK.

14 Apr, 2011

 

I reckon you did the right thing Lily2. They can die of shock when they hit a window. I did the same for 2 blue tits, kept them warm until they recovered. Both of them eventually sat in my hands, then perched on my finger for a while before flying off. No the slightest bit perturbed by me, only flew when they were ready! They are pretty fearless of us when we work in the garden too..feeding just above our heads when we dig and plant.
Yes these blackbirds are early arent they!

14 Apr, 2011

 

How lovely Lily to have such a little family already and great photos

14 Apr, 2011

 

Oh how lovely. Please keep us all informed as to your sightings and their progress. Good luck to them and you.

14 Apr, 2011

 

Thank you all for your comments but it doesn't look promising, no sign of any babies at all today. :o((
A female blackbird has begun building a nest in the same area this morning, no way of telling if it's the same one but it does seem rather a coincidence. I don't know where the nest of the previous babies was as I saw no nest building activity but it must have been nearby.
Ah well it's all part of nature I suppose, better luck next time.

14 Apr, 2011

 

The birds run the risk constantly of attack from predators... poor things but as you say Lily, it's all part of nature.

Leaving he bird under the hedge was the best you could have done....they have to sort themselves out and we just have to hope for a good recovery for them when accidents happen.

14 Apr, 2011

 

Well Wlass, I did wonder at the time if I should try and keep him somewhere safe until morning but whenever I've done this in the past they've never made it through to next day. It may have worked being as he was eating normally but then again he may have had internal injuries. I also wonder what happened to the other one.
I'm pleased it worked for you and the blue tits Tetrarch, what a wonderful feeling you must have had, so rewarding :o))

14 Apr, 2011

 

Lovely pics Lily, hopefully the little bird has recovered from its shock, typical cat appearing at the wrong time, it happens to me a lot when I`m on standby with my camera....

14 Apr, 2011

 

enjoyed the blog and great pics lily, i think you did the right thing, after the quark im sure mum or dad came to the rescue, sometimes we have to get involved, better than doing nothing, hope you see them all tomoz :o)

14 Apr, 2011

 

You did do the right thing Lily, the parents might not have found him until it was too late. I wonder if the much warmer weather tricked some birds into nesting earlier than usual.

14 Apr, 2011

 

Oh Lily, what a sad tale, it must have been really upsetting for you after seeing them feeding on your lawn.(super pics. by the way)
You never know the baby may have recovered and the mummy said to him" I would keep away from that Lily's house if I was you" ! Lol
Seriously though I hope they come back again.

14 Apr, 2011

 

i am sure you did right Lily,i think most of us would have tried to help..great pics .:o)

14 Apr, 2011

 

Thanks LL, why do cats always have to get in the way, be it cameras or computers? They don't like attention elsewhere! LOL
Glad you enjoyed it Sandra, blackbirds are so territorial I think it must be the same parents starting over again :o(
Thanks Sandra (lab), yes I suppose it must be the warm weather got them off to an early start, hope it doesn't turn really cold now.
Hi Val, yes it was upsetting as I don't think either of the babies can have made it. That's why they have so many broods I suppose, we'd be overrun with birds otherwise!
At least Daisy didn't bring one home as a trophy!
Thank you Joanella, I agree most of us couldn't stand by and do nothing. It was lovely to see them feeding and hopefully there will be some more who'll fare better. :o)

14 Apr, 2011

 

Good news of sorts. I've seen Dad in the garden keeping an eye on one baby while Mum is busy building another nest in the hedge ready for the next brood. So at least one of the babies survived although no idea if it was my 'poor little early bird'. The other one may also be around but I can't spend ALL my time watching out for them! lol

15 Apr, 2011

 

And why not may I ask ! LOL

Glad to hear your good news! x

15 Apr, 2011

 

Late to this blog, Lily. What lovely photos of the Blackbirds and how wide the little ones beak is open! Well done on your efforts to save the little one. : o )

18 Apr, 2011

 

Hi Shirley, glad you could make it. :o) There is still one baby around, getting quite self sufficient now but not very wary. Only another few weeks and the next lot will be fledging and giving me something to worry about. It seems all that doesn't go when our own children fly the nest! lol

19 Apr, 2011

 

I'm pleased there is still one baby around ... just keep Daisy well away! I think 'our' Bluetits have upped and gone ... shame as they were in & out for quite some time earlier. : o ((

19 Apr, 2011

 

What a shame Shirley, something must have frightened them off I suppose. I've never put up a nesting box as I find it quite nerve wracking enough with all the others nesting in bushes etc without encouraging more. Having said that, I still love to see them coming and going etc. Fortunately Daisy isn't much of a hunter but if it just sat there in front of her then she wouldn't say no! What's Megan like with the birds?

20 Apr, 2011

 

We've had Bluetits 3 out of the 8 years the box has been up ... guess this year they've gone upmarket! Megan is a swear word right now ... she caught yet another mouse last night ... then she chased a Pigeon ariound the garden today! Very funny though to see her doing her SAS style belly crawl ... the Pigeon escaped unharmed. : o ))

20 Apr, 2011

 

What a shame cats have this horrible habit of killing birds and mice, they'd be more or less perfect otherwise! lol. I'm glad the pigeon lived to tell the tale, would Megan have known what to do with it if she'd actually caught it?

21 Apr, 2011

 

Lol, Lily, now I have visions of Megan dragging a Pigeon across to the back door . . . . .

21 Apr, 2011

 

.....or even through the cat flap? Reminds of that TV ad where the cat tried to pull an oven ready turkey through the cat flap! lol

22 Apr, 2011

 

We have no catflap ... previous owner did and told us all about the frogs/mice/voles being brought indoors! I remember that comical TV ad. too! : o ))

22 Apr, 2011

 

.......eek, dead creatures indoors or even worse, half dead ones....def a no catflap zone then! :o(

22 Apr, 2011

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