Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Other subjects

Flip

Original poster

Nests in my garden - I am so worried.....

21 replies

sparkler1 · 26/04/2006 13:33

We have had a blackbird nest in a hedge in our back garden for weeks now. I noticed this morning that there was a lot of rustling around in the hedges this morning so went to have a look. I noticed two small birds runing around the edges - looks like they could be the babies that haven't quite got the hang of flying as yet although I'm not sure.
I've just been out again and noticed a bird in the hedges that looks like it could be buidling another nest.
This is very lovely and I love watching them but we have a cat and I know our neighbours cats pass through the garden quite a lot. I'm really worried that the birds are going to be caught. . Been reading up on the internet and apparently it's illegal to interfere with blackbird's nest while they are in use.
Guess I just have to let nature take it's course?

OP posts:

Bozza · 26/04/2006 13:36

Does your/the neighbour's cat wear a bell? We have blackbirds nesting and our neighbour's cat wears a bell.

Original poster

sparkler1 · 26/04/2006 13:38

Mine does - don't know about neighbours cats.

OP posts:

WigWamBam · 26/04/2006 13:39

If you interfere with the nest while it's in use the blackbirds won't come back so any eggs or baby birds will be left and die anyway.

I don't think there's much you can do apart from hope that the cats leave the birds alone.

Hausfrau · 26/04/2006 13:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

sparkler1 · 26/04/2006 13:53

There's a few cats that come through here. Ours doesn't stand up for her territory very well. LOL! Not sure how they'd react if I went round with collars. I'd feel a bit cheeky.

OP posts:

Original poster

sparkler1 · 26/04/2006 13:54

.....and they'd probably think I was nuts!

OP posts:

sharklet · 26/04/2006 13:57

Sparkler I hate to be negative but nature will take its course. Those who are strong will survive and those who are not will be caught by foxes, owls, cats etc. Theres not a great deal you can do about it. Fledglings are very easy to catch and do not have enough nouse yet to escape a cat even with a ruddy great bell on - believe me my cat had two huge bell in thie season and still he manages to catch them.

I'm sure some will make it and those who didn't weren't meant to.

We have lots of tits in our garden this year (yes I knw how that sounds ) and I'm hoping they make it so they can eat all the nasties and keep them off my vegetables!

Original poster

sparkler1 · 26/04/2006 17:25

There are still two birds hopping and running around the back of the bushes. I hope they are going to get the hang of flying soon. I assumed birds were quite quick at this when they hatch.

OP posts:

Kathlean · 26/04/2006 17:31

We had a robin nest in the corner of our shed (broken window). Tried to cover the window to stop cats getting in but still let the birds in and out.

Showed DS from the other end of the shed and thought it would be interesting for him to watch them.

went in the shed another time to find bits of dead baby birds all over the shed )-:

Original poster

sparkler1 · 26/04/2006 17:31

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 26/04/2006 17:32

throw a football at the cats?

snigger

cupcakes · 26/04/2006 17:32

last year pur cat brought 2 fledgling in - and the mum. I came home one day to find the carnage in the kitchen. The mum was still alive and cowering in the corner (our cat had lost interest by this point). Apart from the dead birds there was bird poo everywhere. Managed to catch the mother bird and let her out but she wouldn't fly away (despite seeming physically ok). She might have been in shock but I think she wouldn't leave because she was waiting for her babies. The cat caught her again the next day (and this time she was dead).

bloody cat. I resolved to not let her out come the following spring but this year (touch wood) has been better and we've had no dead animals yet.

Original poster

sparkler1 · 26/04/2006 17:33

That's what I'm dreading about tonight. Our cat just sleeps upstairs during the day but night time is her time and I'm sure something terrible will happen to those birds.

OP posts:

cupcakes · 26/04/2006 17:36

Hopefully at night the birds will remain in their nest. Our cat always brought birds in during the day. Mice were her night time speciality.

Original poster

sparkler1 · 26/04/2006 17:37

I'm not sure if they can get back into the nest. They've been on the ground all day and I'm worried that they are having problems.

OP posts:

cupcakes · 26/04/2006 17:38

is the mum around?

Original poster

sparkler1 · 26/04/2006 17:41

I have been in and out all day so haven't really noticed. I'm going to have a browse now.

OP posts:

Original poster

sparkler1 · 26/04/2006 20:09

I think I have seen the mum flying in and out of the nest. I can still see one bird frantically trying to get itself up off the ground. I hearing it's wings flapping and then a crash against the fence. We have come in from the garden now and locked up so we aren't scaring parents away longer than necessary. Just hoping now that things are going to be okay overnight.

OP posts:

Bozza · 27/04/2006 10:12

sparkler are you in the south? Our blackbirds are still nest building.

Original poster

sparkler1 · 27/04/2006 10:19

Hi Bozza. Yes I'm in Poole. They are so lovely to watch aren't they? I'm becoming quite a birdwatcher now - but better than a trainspotter eh?

No sign of feathers this morning - phew! Can't see the birds running around either. Not sure if that's a good sign or not.

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 27/04/2006 10:37

it's like having children isn't it?

we have some blue tits and coal tits nesting in our boxes (and we only have a yard rather than a garden so the kids are very pleased!!)

last year I actually built a sort of fence around the boxes because the local cats (and squirrels) would try and stick their paws/feet through the hole to grab the baby birds

hope your blackbirds survive

Flip