Hello, we are new to the site but have had a traumatic morning. We had a late pair of nesting blackbirds in our oak tree. All was well till last night when there was a terrible commotion for around half an hour. Mum and Dad blackbird were very distressed and in our naivety we thought they were having a domestic!! This morning we made the grim discovery of 3 babies dead on the ground, we took a look at the nest from a ladder and could see one more dead baby in the nest. After watching mum and dad for a while we discovered a live baby on the ground. It was hiding around the base of the tree but they could not seem to get to it. After one attempt at putting it back in the nest by my husband, we then found it on the ground again. Mum and Dad are still trying to feed, it is walking (well jumping really) around so we have left well alone now. Obviously it's chances on the ground are not great but we're not sure what else to do! Does anyone know how long after walking they fledge?? And does anyone know what would attack these poor little things?? We have lots of birds in the garden, and there has been a rather scraggy looking other male blackbird around for a day or two?? Any advice on what to do would be great as we are new to all this. Many thanks.
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Dead blackbird babies (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter denniss
- Start date
Hi denniss and welcome to BirdForum.
It's hard to say what happened to the fledglings but nature can be quite raw at times.
It sounds as though the one fledgling was getting ready to leave the nest and it is normal for the parents to feed it on the ground for a period of time. The best I can tell you is to leave the fledgling be and let the parents handle it from here.
It's hard to say what happened to the fledglings but nature can be quite raw at times.
It sounds as though the one fledgling was getting ready to leave the nest and it is normal for the parents to feed it on the ground for a period of time. The best I can tell you is to leave the fledgling be and let the parents handle it from here.
ChrisKten
It's true, I quite like Pigeons
Agree with KC, leave it for the parents.
Just one thing to add:
The parents will now devote their attention to the lone fledgling, so it's chances of survival have actually improved. So what was bad for it's siblings, was good for the survivor, which is pretty much how Nature works.
Just one thing to add:
The parents will now devote their attention to the lone fledgling, so it's chances of survival have actually improved. So what was bad for it's siblings, was good for the survivor, which is pretty much how Nature works.
Last edited:
sorceresselite
Well-known member
Hi denniss and welcome to BirdForum, rooting for the little one!
