Advice on Blackbird nest please

[kldare]

Hi everyone - for the first time (that we have noticed) we have blackbirds that have nested at the bottom of our garden (the overgrown section!). they have used the inside of a pointed roof of an old unused bird feeding table! Its a bit like a nestbox in that it has a similar whole for entry. hence its not easy to look in and I only noticed by accident about 4 weeks ago that there babies in there. I didnt get too close but noticed two little open mouths! I have since watched at a distance and seen both mum and dad regularly attend the nest. however in the fews days/week...since we have had rain, Ive noticed that a shrub that is close to the nest has really grown and is almost concealing the entrance (hence I cant look in by walking past). a) might the babies have left now? b) should the shrub be cut back (worried about scaring off the parents) c) I read on another post that rain can kill babies....would these have been old enough to be okay? anything we can do /adapt to prevent this in future? d) if/when babies have gone...should nest be cleared out or just left? will parents nest there again?

Im sorry to ask so many questions...but I really want to learn more and make sure Im doing as much as possible in the right way

Many thanks

[Wild-Woman]

Sounds like your blackbirds have fledged and if it's four weeks ago, long gone. I would recommend you leave alone as there's always the possibility of a second brood being raised.
Personally, I wouldn't do anything in that area of the garden until the breeding season is well and truly over.

[david156]

Hi,

You say that you saw babies being fed four weeks ago. The normal time for fledging is about 2 - 3 weeks after hatching. I would go and have a very quick check of the nest and i'd be supprised to find them still there, but be careful because they could be using the nest for a second brood. Hopefully they have all fledged ok and the only one worry is you Once they have gone completly (autumn) you can trim the bush back if you want, Blackbirds do have 2 or 3 broods a year and I think I saw somewhere that one pair had 5 broods! Bet they were tied! They may reuse the site if it was successful, they may build elsewhere. As for removing the old nest I can't answer yes or no but if you do remove it do it in the autumn.

Hope this helps,

Cheers David.

[kldare]

great - thank you both for your consistenet and well informed replies! I can breathe a bit easier now