Any time I have been doing any digging in the garden the blackbirds are there as soon as I move away. I can only assume they know there will be an easy lunch waiting for them. They also chuck and kick bark chippings several feet onto the lawn when they search for food under them. We just have to live with is.
Have to chuckle, I found this thread after googling blackbirds digging up plants, no sooner had I read @clarke.brunt ‘s comment about carnivorous plants I found this:
My poor little butterwort! Have repotted it so hopefully it’ll be ok!!
I was googling it because I saw Mrs Blackbird rummaging around in my pond baskets, and when I went out after she’d left I found this
I’ve also found lots of holes near the rootballs of my new plants! Have moved the old lavender root balls near the areas they’ve been digging up my plants and roughed them up & watered them to hopefully make them more appealing to her! Good thing I’m really passionate about having the birds in my garden!!
Just went to the back door and saw her having ago in the other marginal pot, so have enlisted some temporary measures, sure I’ll find these in the bottom of the pond later 😆
Blackbirds have absolutely no respect for the work of other people. I had weeded one section of border and laid a thick covering of bark over it. Within a couple of hours it was clear that the Blackbird Olympics had taken place and I'd missed the bark chucking event.
Our back garden Mrs. Blackbird has been carrying off pieces of bark in her beak over the last week or so. I can't imagine it makes for a comfy nest but each to their own I suppose. Front garden Mrs B. seems to be sticking to bits out of last year's coir basket liners. I don't think they'll be any good when I come to replant the baskets.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
@KT53 they definitely don’t! I was confused they were targeting the pots and pond when the lavender rootballs have been sat on the patio for weeks! It’s not because they’re too shy because they often come right up to the door.
Now I’m very sad, they’ve dug it out again and I can’t find my butterwort anywhere
Wildlife garden or not, seeing plants get hammered isn’t fun. Maybe you have a money tree in your garden so replacing lost/damaged plants isn’t an issue.
Unless you have the full background and picture to my life, I’d suggest keeping your petty comments to yourself.
@MikeOxgreen I think if you read the posts on this thread properly, you'll find they are simply having a bit of a moan about the Blackbird's ( adults and youngsters ) tendency to poke around, throw stuff about and be a bit of a PITA at certain times of year. Frustrating, irritating, amusing but none of the posts are seriously complaining about them or advocating their demise. I have 2 Blackbird nests in my garden - it won't be long before I am going to be treated to the sight of half a dozen youngsters or more on my raised veg beds - whilst parent actively encourages them to feed themselves from the sidelines. I've been wildlife gardening for 50 years but I still feel entitled to a bit of a moan albeit TIC
Blackbirds are constantly chucking the (now bone-dry) manure mulch off my beds all over my lawn. I guess they go for whatever is easier to turn over - hence your recently dug planting holes. I can hardly begrudge them it - everything is so dry that they need to work pretty hard if it's worms they're after. I much prefer the blackbirds to the obese pigeons ripping my cherry trees to shreds all day every day..
I know it's an old thread, but I wonder if anyone else has noted the irony. Builds up a wildlife garden, complains when the wildlife use it...
I'm certainly not complaining. Just light hearted humour at the 'work' the blackbirds do to the garden. Isn't it ironic that somebody finds irony in a bit of humour?
Posts
I was googling it because I saw Mrs Blackbird rummaging around in my pond baskets, and when I went out after she’d left I found this
Now I’m very sad, they’ve dug it out again and I can’t find my butterwort anywhere
Builds up a wildlife garden, complains when the wildlife use it...
I have 2 Blackbird nests in my garden - it won't be long before I am going to be treated to the sight of half a dozen youngsters or more on my raised veg beds - whilst parent actively encourages them to feed themselves from the sidelines. I've been wildlife gardening for 50 years but I still feel entitled to a bit of a moan albeit TIC
I'm certainly not complaining. Just light hearted humour at the 'work' the blackbirds do to the garden. Isn't it ironic that somebody finds irony in a bit of humour?