Betty Blackbird

The spring of 2023 bestowed upon us the adventures of our blackbird friends in their chosen nesting spot—the delightful jasmine plant that gracefully trails up the side of our wall. You see, these intrepid blackbirds had attempted nesting there on several occasions before, within the trellis that entwined with the fragrant blooms. However, their previous attempts had proven unsuccessful, either abandoning nests with eggs still nestled within or falling prey to cunning thieves. Alas, the trials and tribulations of avian parenthood!

One memorable year, in 2021, the garden became too raucous for our feathered friends as they prepared a nest alongside the wandering Mallard ducks. It seems the noisy commotion interfered with their peaceful incubation, or perhaps they were aware that Mallards, known for their hearty appetites, might devour any fledgling foolish enough to venture near the ground! They fled and nested again eslewhere.

But let's focus on the spring of 2023. In the third week of April, we noticed the blackbirds in action, flying to and fro, busily preparing their nest. (I suspect they had made an attempt elsewhere, in another garden, as we had spotted the female collecting nest materials and disappearing across the wall with them a couple of weeks earlier.) Intrigued, we promptly installed a camera above the nest to unveil their feathered secrets. What a delight it was to witness their aerial ballet, as the female skillfully brought twigs, mud, moss, and grass to construct the cozy abode, meticulously shaping it with each placement.

Before long, the nest stood complete, and within a couple of days of installing the camera, the first egg arrived on April 25th. It was followed by a second the next day, and a third on the day after. Alas, the clutch consisted of only three eggs, a deviation from our expectations of four. However, unlike the Mallard ducks we had previously observed, who would commence incubation after the last egg was laid, the diligent blackbirds dedicated themselves to the eggs as soon as they were laid.

Incubation officially began after the third egg, on April 27th. From that point forward, the female devoted most of her days and nights to the eggs, occasionally napping with her head tucked under her wing, diligently turning the eggs as needed. Mr Blackbird, ever the attentive suitor, became a regular visitor during the day. At times, he even arrived bearing a delectable morsel, which he seemed inclined to offer to the mother, though one can't help but wonder if it was a gesture of bonding or perhaps a hopeful treat for the potential hatchlings.

Days turned into nights, and twelve of them passed before the first glimmer of new life appeared. Ah, the exhilaration! At precisely 5:39 pm on May 9th, the first precious chick emerged from its delicate shell. Both parents promptly sprung into action, diligently feeding the newborn, while the discarded eggshell was discreetly disposed of elsewhere.

The following morning, at 5:30 am, the second chick made its grand entrance into the world. As we gazed upon the nest, the third egg appeared to have developed a small crack, with faint movements discernible through the tiny opening. Alas, fate was not on its side. Despite the parents' valiant efforts to assist the struggling chick by enlarging the crack, their endeavors proved futile. No further signs of life were observed on May 11th, and at 10:38 am, the male seized the shell through the small opening with his beak and carried it away.

Both parents wholeheartedly engaged in the feeding duties. Initially, the male took on the responsibility of providing most of the sustenance, dividing his offerings between the female and both chicks. During the nighttime hours, the mother remained steadfastly with her brood, only briefly departing at dawn to refresh herself before swiftly returning. Throughout the day, she attended to her chicks with unwavering dedication. In her absence, the father would occasionally stand guard over the nest, ensuring the well-being of their feathered offspring.

The chicks displayed remarkable awareness, lifting their heads at the slightest sign of movement approaching the nest. Rather intriguingly, the adults seemed to consume the chicks' excrement ('fecal sac'), rather than physically removing it from the nest—a rather unusual parenting practice, wouldn't you agree?

With each passing day, the chicks grew before our very eyes, their feathers seemingly sprouting by the hour. Daily, we witnessed visible transformations in their appearance, with the wing feathers becoming increasingly discernible. Tiny pin feathers emerged, resembling little bristly spikes, while the feathers along their spines began to take shape. Their eyes remained closed, yet anticipation filled the air.

By day four, their heads tentatively emerged over the nest's edge, and by day five, the pin feathers on their wings appeared to be in a flurry of growth. The chicks continued to develop, and their mother seemed to stand over them, rather than merely sitting upon them. Day six brought forth spines resembling miniature punk haircuts, and their darkening heads showcased the burgeoning feathers. A wonderful sight indeed! Their eyes, now open, eagerly scanned their surroundings as they were diligently fed.

Day seven arrived, and the parents started leaving the chicks alone for gradually increasing periods. By day eight, the chicks appeared to be thoroughly covered in feathers, save for the areas concealed by their wings. As they stretched and reached for food, they extended higher and higher above the nest. Day nine revealed their eyes permanently open, their curiosity about the world intensifying as they embarked on tentative explorations of their nest. And oh, day ten saw them rapidly gaining weight, filling the once-cozy nest to its limits. One can't help but marvel at how a space seemingly so small could accommodate such growing creatures!

On day eleven, the nest became a bustling hub of activity as the chicks roamed about, taking in their surroundings and even perching on the nest's edge. Wings began stretching exercises, and they indulged in delightful scratching sessions with their little feet. Day twelve witnessed even more flapping and movement within the confines of the nest.

Then, on day thirteen, the 23rd of May, a pivotal moment arrived. At 10 am, the father arrived to feed them, and in a blink of an eye, the decision was made—the chicks were ready to take flight. One after the other, they launched themselves into the wide unknown, realizing that they were now on their own.

Regrettably, we were away during their momentous fledging, thus unable to witness the events that transpired. Footage from another garden camera revealed agitated parents, seemingly engaged in a skirmish just off-screen. Alas, we will never truly know if their distress stemmed from an unseen predator snatching one of the chicks. When we returned, we only witnessed Mr Blackbird diligently feeding one of the fledglings, leaving us to ponder the fate of the other.

Ah, the wonders of nature never cease to astonish and stir our souls. May the spirited flight of our fledgling blackbirds serve as a reminder of the resilience and triumph that can be found amidst the ever-unpredictable tapestry of life.

Our instincts proved true, my dear companions. Shortly after our return from holiday, Betty made her triumphant return to her nest, gracefully laying the first egg of the second clutch at precisely 1:26 pm on May 29th. The following day, a second egg graced the nest, and on the 31st, a third precious gift joined their avian family.

During this period, the male blackbird displayed quite a ferocious streak. Perhaps driven by the loss of a fledgling or simply motivated by the desire to protect their offspring, we observed him valiantly mobbing and attacking a mischievous magpie that had snatched a Blue Tit fledgling from our garden. With audacity and determination, Mr Blackbird fearlessly dived into the magpie, who clutched the fledgling in its beak upon the ground. Although the magpie refused to release its captive, the last we saw was Mr Blackbird, hot on its tail as they disappeared into the distance. In the days that followed, we caught glimpses of a blackbird fledglins, often accompanied by Mr Blackbird, but eventually, it seemed to vanish from sight.

Poor Mr Blackbird seemed utterly bewildered by the turn of events. He continued to visit the nest several times a day for the next three days, hoping for his partner's return. Alas, she remained resolute in her absence. However, before long, a glimmer of hope emerged. The female blackbird began collecting nest materials, a determined effort to construct a new abode near our garden, ready to embark on another courageous nesting endeavor.