Bird's Nest

[rockyracoon]

For those of you that helped me last week, I thought I'd give you a quick update. The 3 chicks are really coming along, they've gone from having spiny wings yesterday to fluffly ones today, it happens so fast. Mum and Dad have been looking after them really well, constantly picking up worms in the garden and they seem to not mind my presence. Hopefully they'll be off in a few days, then I'll be able to get rid of the chopped down bush.

Must say though, it's been an absolute pleasure this week, watching them grow.

[chaptazbru]

A real success story - brill !!

[Tilly2]

Thank goodness for that.

[rockyracoon]

Absolutely, I'm so pleased. I was dreading mum would abandon them but she's obviously made of sterner stuff.

[wildwood]

Great news! You're a treasure rocky.

Just one word. Most chicks will need to hide in a bush for a week or so after they leave the nest until they can fly properly.

[rockyracoon]

Thanks Wildwood.

Should I leave the bush for a week after they've flown? They're Blackbirds by the way.

[Prudie]

Aww that's wonderful news. Must admit I thought the parents might abandon them. Bless.

[rockyracoon]

Prudie, I really thought that too, I had 12 year old daughter crying and worrying, it got quite ridiculous but we all got so wrapped up in these tiny little things. At one point the nest tilted over and one of the chicks fell out, fortunately I went out to check on them and found him on the floor. I had to find more greenery to prop it up with!

I was so smacked when I looked in on them this morning, it seemed they'd turned from chicks to adults overnight, I tried to take a picture but it's too dark in the bush.

[rockyracoon]

Doh! Gobsmacked.

[seekeerz]

great news, rocky - your kindness has been well repaid

[carrust]

Well done RR. Hope the magpies or cats don't get them.

[rockyracoon]

Don't say that carrust ;) Fortunately we don't get cats in the garden as I've got a big dog, a few magpies now and then but I've not seen them near the bush, mum and dad seem to have the garden to themselves most of the time.

[Maydup]

Well done rocky, that's a happy ending. Please leave the bush there for a few weeks as the baby birds will be in and out of it as they grow up. Eventually they will be almost as big as Mum and Dad, yet they still dance about the garden asking to be fed and wanting to go home at night. In a week or two's time and you won't believe how much like teenagers they are!

[rockyracoon]

Alas Maydup, I'm not sure the bush will last a few weeks, since the weather turned for the better, the bush seems to be deteriorating quite fast, the leaves have gone brown and they're starting to fall off, my fatsia has taken a battering as I keep chopping the leaves to shelter the nest.

[rockyracoon]

Just read somethng disturbing on the RSPB website, the chicks leave the nest a couple of days before they can fly, does this mean they'll be on the floor in harms way or will they hide in the bush. My dog will definitely have them if he sees them. :(

[Cannaboy]

What a lovely happy outcome to what could have been a disaster - well done to you for caring so much!