One for the birds

@Auntylou (4264)
Oxford, England
April 17, 2016 2:49pm CST
This year a pair of blackbirds have built a nest right in front of my kitchen door. Normally this bird nests in the middle of a hedge, but these are up in the roof of our covered yard, taking advantage of the warmth trapped by the plastic roof, I guess. I first saw a few bits of grass falling down as I was washing up one day and saw the nest at its beginning as the hen bird made it. It is mostly the female that sits on the eggs and twice now I have seen the male bringing food for her. Yesterday my two year old grandson was here and his instinct was to say hello to the bird, as I have been doing to reassure it that I am friendly! He thinks it is really exciting . I do hope we get a glimpse of the chicks when they hatch. Have you wildlife in your garden?
15 people like this
14 responses
@sgbrown (1638)
• United States
18 Apr 16
We have a lot of wildlife around our house. I have bluebirds that are checking out one of my bluebird houses. There are lots of wild turkey that come through our yard daily. Today there were 2 geese just strolling up the driveway! We also have quite a few deer that come through here too, especially when my vegetable garden is up!
2 people like this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
18 Apr 16
My mum used to have a little birdhouse and frequently had bluetits using it. I do love seeing animals. Hope the deer keep off your veg!
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@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
19 Apr 16
@sgbrown I have heard with rabbits that you have to sink wire mesh well below ground level to keep them from digging their way in!
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@sgbrown (1638)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@Auntylou Thank you! I wish we had bluetits around here, they are such beautiful little birds! Hubby and I put up a fence around our garden this year. It's mainly going to work to keep out the turkey and rabbits. The deer will be able to jump it if the really want to, we are hoping that they don't want to go to the trouble! :)
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
18 Apr 16
I have not seen any nests in our yard this year but one never knows, we have a large yard.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
20 Apr 16
@Auntylou We have 3/4 of an acre which is pretty average around here.
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@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
21 Apr 16
@BelleStarr This would be considered big over here
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@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
20 Apr 16
I have heard that yards and gardens in the USA are often much bigger than we usually have on our small island!
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@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
21 Apr 16
no garden but way to much wild life in the yards for me. lol
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@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
27 Apr 16
Do you get alligators?
• Greece
22 Apr 16
You might even have the pleasure of hearing the blackbird sing as well as raising their chicks. Lucky you. We had swallows nesting in the garage once and then, when the garage was closed up they went for a cupboard nearby that had an open door. Our dog chases them away from the garage now but we have had one pair nesting in the eaves.
2 people like this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
27 Apr 16
I have seen glimpses of a chick in the last few days and my husband said he saw it fly off with the parents and I have seen no sign of a sitter ever since. After a few days I will get my son to bring down the nest to show my grandson the eggshell when he next comes.
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
27 Apr 16
I do love the blackbird's song, though they were more vocal at mating time!
@KnehKnah (3584)
• Philippines
20 Apr 16
Wow! Am excited to read more about those birds, Ms. Janet! I use to see small birds dropping by the electric wires in front of our house. At times they sat for few minutes there but mostly, just few seconds. Maybe it's only to rest their tired wings.
1 person likes this
@KnehKnah (3584)
• Philippines
21 Apr 16
@Auntylou I hope you'll have another great shot of them, Ms. Janet!
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
28 Apr 16
@KnehKnah Thi is one time when I wished I had a good camera, as I couldn't get close enough with my phone cam. i saw a new chick poking it's little head out several times, but today my husband saw it on the ground and it flew off. since then the mother has not returned
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
20 Apr 16
I am watching closely so I do not miss the chicks. Will ry to get another photo then
@JudyEv (341693)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Apr 16
I can imagine how excited your grandson will be. He will be 'making memories' for later years.
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
18 Apr 16
Aren't we lucky? We had a robin build a nest some years back, but it was out of the way and I never saw the bird sitting. Our little Ozi will have something wondrous to recall, as you say
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
17 Apr 16
No, the starlings climb right into my dryer vent and hatch their chicks in my house. I have done everything I know to discourage them, including putting copper mesh at the opening. That worked for one year, but they must have managed to get through it finally, because I hear them scratching and cheeping around in there. Sigh.
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
18 Apr 16
How extraordinary! What enterprising birds!
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
2 May 16
Living on the 4rth floor is an apartment building, there is not much wildlife on my balcony. Glad I could enjoy yours!
@jstory07 (139779)
• Roseburg, Oregon
28 Apr 16
In Colorado there was always birds that build nests in our tree. There was always baby birds.
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
18 Apr 16
We have some robins flitting in and out of our hedge, but I don't know if they've got a nest there. I hope you get some baby blackbirds.
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
18 Apr 16
I think here are more blackbirds with a nest in a hedge nearby and a pair of robins have appeared on the scene too. We are getting lots of lovely birdsong
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9115)
• United States
6 May 16
We had some morning doves make a nest in the plant on my porch. I was so surprised they wanted to be anywhere near my house, it is not the most peaceful quietest place in the world
@cacay1 (83577)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
10 May 16
Wow,cool, the bird likes your kitchen wall. She has felt the complete freedom. Share here the bird lings.
@just4him (317250)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
29 Apr 16
That's wonderful. We do have a lot of birds, but I haven't seen nests yet.
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
29 Apr 16
Our wildlife is mostly just beyond our fence. We hear the birds that nest in the neighbour's yard, which is quite delightful :)