My dancing blackbird

[willowjay]

We have at least three blackbird pairs in our garden, several youngsters raised successfully, and life seems a bit calmer now. So this evening I was fascinated to see one of our male blackbirds on the patio, pecking at the gaps in the paving slabs insistently. Eventually all the ants started emerging and the blackbird kept pecking. I don't think he was taking ants - perhaps going after the eggs? Certainly there were no "flying ants" emerging.

But he did seem to be dancing around - so my question is - was he just keeping out of the way of the cross ants he had disturbed - or were they biting him?

[SheffieldLass]

He had ants in his pants .....

Sorry, couldn't resist

P.S. Birds do 'anting', putting ants in their feathers or rubbing themselves in ants nests. Maybe he was doing that.

[cafebird]

I was told by bird enthusiast (not an expert) that they pulled the moss out between paving when they are nest building they usually leave it lying to dry out befor taking it to line the nest,dont know if this is true but I have seen them do this,also watched them do it after a rainfall as the worms normally lay just below the surface after a storm.