Unusual Blackbird Behaviour

[golf48golf]

Hi Can anyone help. I have a blackbird (not sure if male or female) but at approx 6am each morning, keeps bumping into the bedroom window then attempting to climb up, (I live in a bungalow), the bird keeps doing this for some time.

[The Woodman]

Hi golf48golf

It could be territorial behaviour. Because this is repeated, it is probably a male who sees his reflection in the window and attempts to see the rival off. If you see a real pair of males do this they often climb in the air for a short distance whilst battling before parting.

There may be a female nesting close by and he is protective of her. I've seen this behaviour a few times with different species. A wagtails spent hours attcking its own reflection in my wing mirrors when I was parked near the river. It would fly from one to the other giving them a good hiding but it must have caught sight of its refection by chance in the first place.

Male blackbirds are a nice deep black with yellow beaks and females are brown.

Welcome to WAB.

[golf48golf]

Hi The Woodman

Is there anything you can suggest to make it move away (other than cover my windows in black bin liners to discourage it) but I have a window that I cannot get to to cover (it's been moving windows as I have been covering them up), the other problem of doing this is that we are trying to sell the property so obviously does not look good.

Thanks

[The Woodman]

Now there's challenge!

It will stop, probably as quickly as it started. Off the top of my head there're two things to consider.

1. Physical barrier to prevent the stimulation and response. The bird must be catching a reflection of itself and then approaching the windows. I doubt it would be flying around and seeing its own reflection, it probably sees itself from ground level. Perhaps a length of garden netting e.g. Netlon supported by canes would prevent it from getting to the window.

Using this method, you will not put people considering purchasing your house by blanking out windows. If people say they don't want to purchase because of a blackbird then thery're using the bird as an excuse rather than telling you they just don't like the house. I wouldn't like to sell my house to people who couldn't understand and accept this as part of lifes rich tapestry!

2.Distraction. Place a mirror at ground level at a suitable angle in a nearby location until the bird got it out of its system. It may well forget the window and concentrate its efforts elsewhere.

I would imagine the resourceful and knowledgeable folks on WAB will have other ideas.

[Tursiops2]

Can you hang a net curtain behind the window? This would make the reflection less visible.
T2

[golf48golf]

Hi The Woodman

Thank you for your excellent ideas, will try both and let you know how I get on.