Nesting Blackbirds?.

[Lonnie]

Hi everyone, do Blackbirds nest more than just once, as I had one, a female, (the male was on a fence watching her), collecting bits of straw and other materials, and it got me wondering.

[burnhal]

Given decent weather and a plentiful food supply most smaller birds will have more than one brood. They may make another nest or carry out renovation work on the existing one.

[Lonnie]

Thanks burnhal.

[smudge]

Hi Lonnie, as you may recall from a previous thread, we've had a Blackbirds nest in a tree, at eye level & outside our kitchen window for the last few weeks. It's been wonderful to watch Mum & Dad flitting back & forth feeding their babies & listening to all the chirping!

Alas, they all left the nest two days ago & we miss the din already - it's so quiet without them!

I do hope they return to set up home again!

[Lonnie]

Hi smudge, yes, I do recall that one, the original nest of this one, is in the dividing hedge, out of sight of the house, although you could see it very clearly when standing near to it. I'll have to keep a lookout, to see if its using the same nest for a second brood..

[heathfield]

I've known blackbirds to build more than one nest at the same time, and even lay eggs in more than one, though they only incubate the one batch. (I remember particularly a pair of blackbirds that built four nests in the grounds of an old mansion house, and laid eggs in two of them).

[Robinia]

In my immediate area we have at least three pairs of blackbirds who keep going all summer long & they look a bit ragged by the end of it! As soon as have one lot of babies have flown the nest the adults are building again. I'm not sure whether they're 'wife swapping' though :o)

[smudge]

Ha, ha, Robina - I'm glad I'm not a black'bird' then, just about have the energy to mop the kitchen floor in this heat!

[Robinia]

hehe smudge I'm sticking to my floor, it's really needs cleaning - better have some of these raisins, they obviously work wonders for the blackbirds....

[smudge]

Oh Robbie, my kitchen floor was disgusting from yesterday! We had 6 adults & 5 kids traipsing in & out all day & it felt like superglue underfoot!!!!

Hope you are feeling much better from when we last spoke (sinus, migrane headaches).

Sorry Lonnie - just catching up....

[Lonnie]

No problem smudge, I.ve found the nest, or at least, one nest, and it has a chick in it, so now i'm assuming anothe nest is being built, or its relining this one, while the chicks still in it,