News0 min ago
Blackbirds - why?
31 Answers
I'm currently being woken by a lovely alarm clock - there's a blackbird in the vicinity who sits out there every morning at dawn, singing his little heart out, bless him.
My question is, why does the blackbird always seem to be the one to initiate the dawn chorus?
My question is, why does the blackbird always seem to be the one to initiate the dawn chorus?
Answers
The main reason is to keep other Blackbirds and Thrushes out of its feeding territory. Their main diet - worms and other slimey things - is easily digested so they need a longer feeding timeframe than other birds that feed on seeds and insects which take longer to digest.
You' ll also see the blackbird out when it is nearly dark to fill up before going to...
22:00 Wed 30th Mar 2011
Jayne, yes, I know exactly what you mean. Fortunately she doesn't actually make contact. Just keeps her face about half an inch away from mine. She just stands over me, staring at me until I open my eyes and acknowledge her. That's unless I'm facing the other way, in which case the cold, wet nose gets shoved in my ear!
The main reason is to keep other Blackbirds and Thrushes out of its feeding territory. Their main diet - worms and other slimey things - is easily digested so they need a longer feeding timeframe than other birds that feed on seeds and insects which take longer to digest.
You'll also see the blackbird out when it is nearly dark to fill up before going to sleep.
You'll also see the blackbird out when it is nearly dark to fill up before going to sleep.
Wildwood, amid a very interesting (and sometimes downright silly) thread, that answer makes a lot of sense. Thank you.
I do actually love listening to the blackbird - makes a nice change from the neighbour's motorbike or her down the road yawping off first thing in the morning.
The woodpigeons always sound as though they're laughing at me.
I do actually love listening to the blackbird - makes a nice change from the neighbour's motorbike or her down the road yawping off first thing in the morning.
The woodpigeons always sound as though they're laughing at me.