How Quickly Will Baby Blackbirds Learn To Fly?

[Barmaid]

The blackbirds in the garden have left the nest this morning. Mum and Dad are still on a constant feeding and guarding frenzy. I've confined the cats to barracks. How long will it be before these babies fly away?

[boxtops]

fortnight at least http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/expert/previous/treefelling.aspx

[SlackAlice]

Birds learn pretty quick so not long. Experts will give a better answer soon. You just made me chuckle, because i thought of you striding up and down the garden dressed in camouflage and black face, armed to the teeth with water pistols 'a la' SAS style.

[tyrepill]

I had two a fortnight ago and they flew within four days,one even got a sparrow to feed it.

[sebhfhion]

// How long will it be before these babies fly away?//

Probably in another couple of weeks but the blackbirds may have another brood so you'll be back to square one.

[Barmaid]

Oh my, 2 weeks?!!!!

SlackAlice - it's not far from the truth. First thing I do when I get up is check the blackbirds, if a cat goes out, I go out too. I have some supersoaker pistols located a various places in the garden and I normally am not far from the hosepipe. Last thing I do at night is check the blackbirds.

Seb - if they want to have another brood that's fine by me. I shall continue to provide them with food and protection so long as they need it!

[tonyav]

Are the cats fed up fed up fed up yet BM ?.

[devilspawn]

ineresting question as I noticed the blackbird chick in my garden yesterday, but it must be quite far on as it was quite mobile hopping around and onto my tubs. my dog doesnt bother with them or the sparrows, but she goes wild and chases off the doves and pigeons!

[ladybirder]

Unfortunately BM the babies don't suddenly become street savvy because they have flown the nest. They will be easy prey for some time to come I'm afraid. If they make it till next year they will have learned a few lessons and be more street/garden-wise.
Early morning when they are very hungry after a long night, and dusk when they are having supper to keep them going till next morning are the most dangerous times. So if you could keep moggies in then or be on sentry duty that'd help:-)

[Barmaid]

I'm a bit better thanks Desky.

Baldric, oh yes, I have four fed up moggies.

Ladybirder, Thankfully, the cats are always indoors in the early morning (they seem to work on the basis that if they are here when I get up that's the best chance of food), by dusk they are normally having a good kip sleeping off supper. Nonetheless, they are not going out the back til I can be sure that the fledglings have at least left my garden. That's probably the best I can do for them. One fledgling has made it to the other side of the garden and is sitting in a tree with dad feeding him. The other 3 are in the clematis above the back door so at least they are not accessible by cats.

[ladybirder]

Looking good for your babies them bm.

My lady blackbird has been on my window feeder picking live mealworms and eating them straight away. I'm guessing she doesn't have babies yet as when she does she fills her bill with about 12 at a time hanging out each side like a puffin with fish and flies off with them. Must be breeding later down here in B&H.

[rockyracoon]

I had 3 blackbird chicks in a nest in my garden until last week, on the thursday morning they were gone from the nest, we found them hidden in an overgrown patch at the top of the garden, mum was teaching them to fly, by friday am they were gone, presumably flown away as we get no cats in the garden and I kept the dog away from them.

[carrust]

I've got a new blackbird nest on my allotment. It's decided to build it right among my plant pots that are needed right now...I've just back from the garden centre with loads of new ones!

[ladybirder]

Good for you carrust. So more blackbirds can build a nest now then:-))

[chaptazbru]

I've had a female blackbird visiting me for four years now. She is always coming for food, but never takes any away with her as if to feed young. I find it hard to believe that in all those four years she's never nested. Do male blackbirds take a turn on the nest does anybody know ?