Blackbird V Mirror!

agrumpycow · #1 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 02:41 PM

We've got an large old plastic mirror leaning against one of our fences out the back (we've no use for it, my hubby just won't throw anything away!).
Over the last day or so I've noticed a male blackbird seemingly trying to fight his own reflection, jumping up and down, hitting the mirror with it's beak, etc.
Will it do itself any harm (i.e. have I got a good excuse to try and get my hubby to get rid of his rubbish, a task easier said than done...) or will it be OK?

tony a · #2 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 02:58 PM

Hi Clair,

The blackbird thinks it's reflection is another male blackbird, as they are very territorial it is trying to chase the other male blackbird away. this will obviously not happen and the bird will probably become quite stressed.

Best to remove the mirror.

naturelover · #3 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 02:58 PM

Hi claire,how funny would love to see that,i dont think he is heavy enough to break the mirror just watch and have a laugh,take a pickie give us all a laugh,ha ha.

Kayleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 03:01 PM

Like tony said he will become distressed, can you turn the mirror round so he can,t see himself..He is wasting lots of energy that he need in this cold weather..

naturelover · #5 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 03:05 PM

True never thought of that sorry.

m1.carson · #6 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 03:13 PM

Hi,

There was a post very recently about a blackbird that had a broken beak, said possibly to have happened by flying into a window or something, wouldn't like to have the same thing happen to yours.

A cob swan at work spent hours pecking at it's reflection, and someone else on this site had crows attacking their windows.

Max.

agrumpycow · #7 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 03:14 PM

Thank you all, I now have the written evidence I need to make my husband move his rubbish!

I will go and move it now

Meta menardi · #8 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 04:03 PM

I have had a pied wagtail work on my car mirror till I covered it, and friend of mine parked his shiny car while we were shearing sheep round the corner, and a tup very

comprehensively restyled large parts of it.

dunlin · #9 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Like tony said he will become distressed, can you turn the mirror round so he can,t see himself..He is wasting lots of energy that he need in this cold weather..

Agree with kayleigh. May be a good idea to leave him some food out and help him recover from his head banging antics

m1.carson · #10 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 04:47 PM

Hi meta minardi,

Go on give an old townie a clue, what's a tup, I've heard of tups mixture for fly tying, but,... "a tup",... got to pass on that.

Max.