blackbirds

[nightowl57]

I haven't seen a blackbird in my garden for ages, I always had at least one regular visitor. Then after hatching I had about 8 youngsters feeding, now, nothing.... do they disappear for moulting?

[AndrewB]

I've had about 3 young blackbirds around recently which is nice because I have a pole feeder and only put out crumbled up bread on the lawn about once a week.

Strangely though all the starlings have disappeared.

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by nightowl57

.... do they disappear for moulting?

Yes, they do. Because they are more vurnerable without the full compliment of flight feathers, most birds will keep a low profile whilst in moult. If you've been used to feeding them, then it's best that you continue, but scatter the food under bushes etc, where they can feed with some natural cover.

[mainman]

I have always had plenty of blackbirds in my garden and up until June had 2 pairs regularly. Also a pair of thrushes. All have totally disappeared despite one female blackbird building a nest in a bush.
There is a sparrowhawk around as I caught it early one morning recently pouncing into a bush and pulling out a sparrow not 10 foot from my back door. Could that be where all the birds have gone?

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

I havn`t seen a blackbird for months, we used to get around 10 on a daily basis. Its a strange one, maybe in my case its something to do with a sparrowhawk that seems like its become a resident in our area and hangs around in the trees just above where the birds feed.