Is Mr Blackbird a pest?

[mrbadexample]

Mr Blackbird is currently hopping about the beds where I've been working.

Is he a threat to my seedlings, or is he just looking for insects etc?

[smallblueplanet]

He might pull a few up and scatter some compost, but I bet he's looking frantically for food to feed an early brood.

[mrbadexample]

He might pull a few up and scatter some compost, but I bet he's looking frantically for food to feed an early brood.

I don't mind the compost scattering, but I do mind the pulling!

[Pumpkin Becki]

My blackbirds are scattering compost everywhere at the moment, but its nature, and I wouldn't have it any other way. The only way to stop them is to pop something over your really precious seeds and seedlings, something like a net or fleece tunnel, or if its very small areas, you could cut the bottom off empty 2 litre drinks bottles, take the cap off, and sink the bottom into the soil over your seedlings (like a mini green house).

[mrbadexample]

I didn't chase him off, I just let him get on with it. I quite enjoyed watching him (nervously!)

[Pumpkin Becki]

Mine have fledged their first babies into our garden, two little brown bundles of fluff - just gorgeous!

[Two_Sheds]

I love blackbirds, but they're a nuisance when they start stealing strawberries. I wouldn't mind if they just ate a whole one, but they have a peck at all of them to see which is the best

Digging and rummaging is fine with me: if you want to help him out, chuck some soaked raisins down, or sit and dig grubs & worms out of the soil for him

[ginger ninger]

I bought some Mealworms from the R.S.P.B reserve near us for the blue tit's...needless to say Mr & Mrs Blackbird like them as well. I had 2 males fighting in my broad beans the other day very noisy things they are. Jinny was going mad to get at them, but I kept him inside. When he does go out he has 2 bells on his collar. It gives the birds warning that he's there.

[taff]

watching a blackbird trying to fit a sloworm in it's beak is very entertaining, he must have thought he'd found the biggest worm in the world

[Rabidbun]

Mine are pests. I like them but they dig my garlic out and rake through my raised beds leaving two and three inch holes given half the chance! Then they eat my strawberries.

Have saved 70 or so CDs this year and popped them around the edges of the pots and where room inbetween the garlic - has done the trick so far at least! They also don't seem to like the netted beds (cat deterrant but left the top open to stop things getting trapped) and haven't yet ventured in for the worms this year.

[pauco]

Pest!!! They must be the best looking pest we have. We dig the plots, gardens to plant our seeds/bulbs/
veg/ they come looking for food! to feed their young & themselves. Ok they may scatter a few seeds &
such, pinch a few strawbs, they do love em lol but is that such a great loss to us????
Live & let live

paul.

[Jeanied]

My cat is a very fussy eater and often leaves half a bowl of cat food (Whiskas sachets) to dry out and attract the flies. Mr and Mrs Blackbird do like it though - problem solved!

[Rabidbun]

My cat is a very fussy eater and often leaves half a bowl of cat food (Whiskas sachets) to dry out and attract the flies. Mr and Mrs Blackbird do like it though - problem solved!

Heh, knowing my luck I'd just get the neighbourhood cats.

My blackbird took out around a third of the strawberries last year before I noticed (lil beak marks around the back of them where he'd jumped up around six inches), three tubs of garlic (didn't bulb due to constantly being replanted), four chard plants, around a foot and a half of mizuna, several lettuces, a set of beans and would have gone though the peas too, bless im! I only grow in small metre squared beds and pots though, so the damage is quite severe when he goes at it! He's quite happy eating the bugs on the lawn though now.

[northepaul]

Pest - they have been busy eyeing up my blueberries and strawberries already....I find the CD deterrent works very well - along with netting strawbs

[cptncrackoff]

I have one at the moment, and its very aggresive!! Any pigeons come in the garden the blackbird goes for them, its brilliant I've never seen anything like it.
Obviously protecting a nest nearby.

It sat in front of the lawnmower the other day, wouldnt budge at all.
It lets the robins eat on the table, thats it. I like him!!