Blackbird alarm call just for the sake of it?

[~T~]

So I threw out a load of raisins for the blackbirds or whoever wanted them earlier this afternoon. About half an hour later I heard a blackbird alarm call briefly. When I looked out there was nothing there but stood at the window watching anyway as I had spotted a goldfinch in the trees behind my garden and waited to see if it would come down to the nijer feeder. A few minutes later a male blackbird arrived and busied himself gathering raisins (I'm guessing to feed chicks, are they still nesting?). Once it had stuffed it's beak sufficiently it flew off (diagonally to my left over my neighbours garden which is the end house on the block) as it flew away it let out an alarm call. Maybe it spotted a cat in my neighbours garden I thought as they do tend to lurk there behind the row of small pine trees that border our gardens. But I waited and it repeated this exact behaviour about half a dozen times, always making the alarm call as it left. What would be the point of doing this? Maybe to keep other blackbirds away from it's stash of raisins? Or is it just the bird that cried cat?

[Wild-Woman]

I think it would alarm call to actually get a predators attention, perhaps flying away from the direction of a nest so the predator is fooled into thinking its gone. Then a silent approach in the vacinity where the raisins are and possibly the nest.

[KentYeti]

I see a lot of similar sorts of behaviour in my garden.

I simply think they see a lot more than we do!

Bryan

[dampflippers]

My blackbirds was until they see me or hubby in the house, then make little begging sounds (peeps) until we put sultanas out.
As soon as we do, there is an alarm type call (presumably this is a "hurray she's brought food, come and get it wife") sort of sound.

[artdemole]

I. suspect that having made a genuine alarm call at one time,then found no others going to feed from it's regular spot just keeps doing it for the birds own convenience.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Blackbirds will make alarm calls as part of their normal going to bed roost calls.

Cheers,

Adam

[~T~]

I watched him do the exact same behaviour yesterday afternoon when I got home from work. I think either it's a 'just in case' alarm or to fool other blackbirds into thinking there is danger so they will keep away from his food. I did notice the sparrows took no notice of his alarm and continued to feed on the fat feeders.

[actionfinch]

I heard several blackbirds tonight joining in with the magies....there was some comosion going on, went to investigate , (thats when i heard the blackbirds) and again that was like Adam said it was about half hour ago, so i would go with that theory.....

[~T~]

Originally Posted by actionfinch

I heard several blackbirds tonight joining in with the magies....there was some comosion going on, went to investigate , (thats when i heard the blackbirds) and again that was like Adam said it was about half hour ago, so i would go with that theory.....

He does it at any time though. The other day it was about 5pm which is a bit early for bedtime.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Maybe there are predators / threats around that you cannot see, particularly cats etc.

cheers,

Adam