Blackbird nest in garden

[Wizmatt]

Hello all,

I have recently found a blackbird nest in a bush in our garden. As yet there are no eggs, and I have seen the female making trips into the bush with material. Luckily we can just see it from inside the house so can observe causing very little disturbance.

I am after some advice as now the weather is warming up the garden is being used a bit more and I am very concious of disturbing the nesting pair.

When is the least disturbing time of day to be in the garden?

What's the maximum length of time one should be out in the garden, to let the female incubate the eggs and the male feed her?

Our garden is 10m x 15m. I have moved the feeders away from the nest as they were within 3m of the nest and could have cuased stress to the parents.

This is the first nest we have had in the garden for over 15 years so would appreciate your comments to help them raise a successful brood. Thanks.

[greenace233]

Hi there, the pair will go about their business if your there or not. Just stay away from the nest and i alwys avoid 1st thing in the morning venturing in the garden for any length of time. The pair will feed the chics, they will dig for worms mainly. Watch out for predators especially the pesky cats and magpies. If i see any in my garden i clap my hands usually scare them all off. anyway goodluck with the new arrivals and fingers crossed its a very happy ending. you never know they may all stay so you can see them through the summer. debbie

[Wizmatt]

Thanks for the info debbie.

Yesterday there were two eggs in the nest and this morning the female was sat incubating them.

[Guinnessman1974]

I'm glad to read of this post, as I was about to write of the same enquiry.

We have a Blackbird's nest right in our back yard by our kitchen window, the female was sat in the nest yesterday incubating eggs.

I am concerned as we hang our washing out in the yard during the summer every Sunday, and also what with the odd BBQ as well it does rather concern me about disturbing them.

However, saying that we had House Sparrows nesting above the kitchen window last year but they didn't seem bothered by us, just going about their business!

[Hedera]

Once the hen bird is sitting she will not take much notice of you if you move about quietly. If you are around it will help keep off predators too. Watch out for those pesky magpies - the one day I went out they got my blackbirds.

[witham]

We had a blackbird nest for two years in one of our greenhouses amongst the grape vine and where we keep all the pots etc and in a busy part of the garden which we couldn't avoid as its next to the path we use to go see to our animals it practically ignored us especially when sitting on its eggs as they almost go comotose like a broody hen another one nested in our shed behind the blade of a hoe which was hung up, last year one even nested on the peddles of a bike stored in the barn for when the next grandchild is big enough for it and one nests in our garage/workshop every year another busy area as long as you don't go out of your way to disturb it or be constantly looking at the nest to see if the eggs have hatched etc you shouldn't really have to change your routine

[dav56]

I was cutting bck a thorn bush in my garden early last week and noticed a blackbirds nest with eggs in it in the middle of the bush. I stopped the work straigt away, worried that I had already disturbed them off their nest. I needn't have worried as within 10 mins of moving away the female returned to the nest.
I could hear then see that the eggs successfully hatched. I can now see the male and female busily feeding them. I have found they completely ignore me when I am in the garden. I have also found that if I am doing something which disturbs the ground they will both be looking for worms as soon as my back is turned.
So like the rest of the posts say you don't really need to change your habits too much.

Dave