Cyn's Nature Notes: Interesting Blackbird Behaviour

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Interesting Blackbird Behaviour

Just after 2:00 p.m. yesterday I noticed two male adult blackbirds, on the lawn outside the lounge patio windows.

One blackbird was chasing the other, then the one being chased would stop, turn and start chasing the chaser. This behaviour continued for several minutes at a time, it was interrupted at intervals by one of them leaving the lawn and flying into the cherry tree or onto the garage roof, quickly followed by the other. however as soon as the second one landed the first one flew back down onto the lawn again, swiftly followed by the other. This was followed by more of the chasing behaviour.

This odd behaviour continued for the next six hours until 8:00 p.m. There was no visible or audible aggression, in fact it looked to me as if there were both enjoying it. Unless they were flying there was no opening of wings, no rushing at each other, no physical contact whatsoever.

Today I kept a watch for them, this morning only one blackbird appeared, he spent much of the time feeding on the lawn. Late morning he disappeared.

Late afternoon, I glanced out of the window and saw the two blackbirds back again and indulging in the same odd behaviour, I don't know how long it had been going on but it only lasted another twenty minutes.

This is the first time I have seen this behaviour and I found it fascinating. It certainly did not look territorial, I have seen many territorial disputes between blackbirds and this was not one.

Does anyone reading this have an explanation.

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About this Blog

When we moved to our present home in December 1987, I was very ill and bedridden. My garden was a life-saver, although it was very different then. The first thing I did was to put up bird-feeders, and long hours were spent lying indoors in a recliner. This was when I discovered many things. Do you know the underside of every blue tit’s tail is differently marked? Gradually, over the years, the garden changed. We put in shrubs and plants that would not only enhance the garden, but would also be good for wildlife. The first rabbit we saw was so joyful for us. The deer eat the flowers, prune the apple trees, eat the marrow, and are wonderful to watch. Foxes have been a major part of our wildlife. We have fed them each night for more than 20 years. They are such a delight, especially in late summer and early autumn when there are youngsters. They behave like puppies and are great fun to watch.

I love all wildlife: the mason bees that nest in the brickwork of the bungalow, the hornets that last year made their home in the roof above our bedroom, the bees currently nesting in the roof above the bathroom. On a hot evening, if you stand quietly in the bathroom, you can hear this amazing sound: it is very rhythmic and reminds me of the waves at the seaside. It is made by the beating of the bees’ wings as they fan their nest to keep the temperature at the right level -- how many people have heard that sound? I feel so privileged.

Obviously, I feed the birds. When I open the window in the morning I call “Come on Bobby and Blackie”, and one followed swiftly by the other they fly immediately to the bird table. Each morning, on rising, I make my way to the kitchen and find the squirrels already sitting on the window ledge waiting to be fed. Winter brings the moorhens and spring time the mallards. Our pond is a poor effort from a human point of view, but wild creatures see it differently. On summer days, the grass snakes spend long hours in the pond: eating the fish, froglets, toadlings, newts, and any other living creature they can swallow. Although I hate to see the pond emptied this way, I do enjoy the snakes and feel they are an important part of the balance of nature in the garden. Watching a dragonfly nymph climbing out of the pond, up a plant stalk, and then over the next few hours gradually transforming into a beautiful dragonfly -- these are contented hours well spent.

It has been my pleasure to write and publish a nature column each month. I am always delighted to hear how much pleasure this brings to my readers. I have often been asked if I have written a book, so I am making more of my writings and photography available through this web site and blog.