skip to main content

Redwing Blackbirds are back!

11 years ago

I was delighted to see the Redwing Blackbirds back at the feeder the other day. They were back again today, swaying away in our tornadic weather... thank heavens the actual tornado was a couple of 'blocks' away. :) Hope they were holed up somewhere safe and I see them again tomorrow.
Ging

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

Konrad___far_north
11 years ago
Great!...it will take another 3 or 4 month until we see them here.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
11 years ago
So that's where my red-wings went! On January 5 a flock of at least twenty Red-winged Blackbirds visited my yard and noshed on the seed mix on the ground.

For the next few days or a week I saw a couple, but then they all disappeared. I usually have a few males wintering here but they're gone too. We did have some really cold weather so maybe they turned around and headed south?

I'm waiting for the next wave - early February is likely.

Claire
Related Discussions
Humane way to deter Red-winged blackbirds away from a garden?
Q
Comments (6)
Blackbird squabbles bothered me, with one pair attacking another pair's baby, etc. Plus they would try to roost on my house. And peck at all my growing things. So, since I have soil with plenty of small rocks I started waving my arms and then throwing rocks NEAR them, not at them. After a few days they learned that arm-waving precedes the rocks, and they would fly away. Next I would slam a door or sliding window before going outside to waive my arms. Persistence paid off and from then on the blackbirds were deterred from spending much time at my place just by slamming a window or door. The next year they only needed a few days of re-training. My neighbors down the street often have fifty blackbirds on their property. I seldom have any.
...See More
Redwing blackbirds back in Michigan first of March??
Q
Comments (11)
I think I saw a Vulture yesterday but it could have been our resident Eagle, didn't have my binocks. It was over a favorite Vulture hang out. Gotta make a positive ID before I put it in the books. I hope my Blues are not early I'm going out of town for a long weekend next week.....
...See More
Red-winged Blackbird pair
Q
Comments (3)
Certainly not a wild bird like the blackbird - these are not good pets. This site, The Best Pet Birds For Kids says that generally they don't recommend that children under 12 years old be given pet birds, and they give a lot of reasons for that. "You should not get a pet bird for your child, if: 1) Your child is under the age of 12 and will be the birdÃ¢ÂÂs sole care taker. Some children donÃ¢ÂÂt understand the consequences of their actions, especially if they forget to give the pet bird food or water. Animal cruelty should not be practiced so that a child can learn responsibility the hard way. 2) Your child has no money to take the pet bird to an avian veterinarian if it gets sick. Parents who donÃ¢ÂÂt allow pet birds that are sick to be taken to the vet because they donÃ¢ÂÂt want to spend the money teach the child a number of bad lessons. If the parent or child is unable or unwilling to take to the pet bird to a vet, then donÃ¢ÂÂt get the pet bird. 3) If the child is too busy with extracurricular activities to spend at least one to two hours hanging out with the pet bird. 4) If the child is not willing to check out websites or read magazines and books about a pet bird before adopting one. 5) If the child has trouble controlling his or her emotions. Prey animals do not respond well to physical outbursts and will fly or bite." They do list nine birds that are suitable for kids under the right circumstances. Claire This post was edited by claire on Thu, Mar 6, 14 at 12:53
...See More
Two Brown Thrashers and a Red-winged Blackbird
Q
Comments (6)
There is a park, a small field that is regularly mowed, and a sort of a wet-weather slough that runs between four properties (one of which is ours). It's basically what's left when a developer is too lazy to properly landscape when they build a plat on uneven terrain. There may be only one of the females; We've been away for awhile and I've not yet seen her again since we got back. Apparently my female house sparrows have lost their itty-bitty minds and have taken to scattering the seed from the window feeder far and wide, which has finally given the grackles something they can get at. The grackles are making things a little more difficult for everyone else and I wonder if they've driven her off. So I'll not be filling the window feeder any more - then we'll see if Ms. RWBB comes back or no, LOL!
...See More
Virginia White
Original Author
11 years ago
Nice shot! We are in Adairsville (currently famous for a tornado - go figure...) and I am hoping the Redwings found some good shelter. The feeder and suet are covered up today - went out and strewed some bread around for the doves and other interested parties since everything is sodden or blown away in our area.
We are lucky enough to have a couple of very small 'wetland' areas a short distance away along with a good-sized creek, so we have frequent and consistent visits from the Redwings. In fact, the greedy little devils run off the competition on the feeder sometimes. Still, I really do enjoy having them here. Bad manners and all. :)
Ging
organic_bassetlvr
11 years ago
Ging,
Glad you're safe & let's hope for mild weather from here on out. I'm in East Tennessee & haven't seen Red-wings yet but I bet I do soon. I love their Kolkaree (sp?)song!
Susan
Virginia White
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Susan - glad you all were missed by all that weather. I think their song/call is really interesting. I heard a ?Bell bird at a zoo one time and there is a similarity to me in the calls: both sound a bit like two pieces of cast iron pipe twisting against each other. Kind of a 'qweenk' noise. Might not make sense unless you've heard those pipe noises before.
I'm sure we're in for some more freezing weather - poor bulbs are going to get bitten - maybe the Redwings will keep coming around.
Ging

Related Stories

COMMUNITY In L.A.’s Echo Park, a New Urban Development Takes Flight

Blackbirds, a new ‘microneighborhood’ near downtown, is Los Angeles’ latest small-lot urban infill project

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Modern Settings for Old-School Pieces in a Pittsburgh Loft

By Adrienne DeRosa

Transitional style merges an urban couple's traditional furniture with the modern backdrop of their whitewashed loft

REGIONAL GARDEN GUIDES Northeast Gardener's April Checklist

By Paintbox Garden

Revel in the wonders of spring by babying bulbs, sprinkling seeds for root crops and setting out some nibbles for the birds

KITCHEN DESIGN Pro Chefs Dish on Kitchens: Paul Kahan Shows His Urban Sanctuary

By KitchenLab Interiors

Peek inside Kahan's newly redone home kitchen and learn what he considers most important for a cooking space

DECORATING GUIDES Botanicals Gone Wild: Wallpapers that Wow

By Becky Harris

Sweet Floral Prints Are Bigger and Spreading Faster Than Kudzu

INSPIRING GARDENS Inside Houzz: A Waterfront Property Ditches the Grass for a Garden

By Annie Thornton

New drought-tolerant plantings and outdoor gathering spaces help this California backyard take in the view without wasting space or water

GARDENING GUIDES 3 Ways to Revel in Summer Garden Sweetness

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Patiently observe what works and doesn’t work in your landscape

DECORATING GUIDES New Classics: Woods Wallpaper by Cole and Son

By Becky Harris

The popularity of this soothing forest-themed wallpaper shows no signs of waning

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning

By Alison Hodgson

Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family

MOST POPULAR When Does a House Become a Home?

By Laura Gaskill

Getting settled can take more than arranging all your stuff. Discover how to make a real connection with where you live

Sponsored

More Discussions

A MORE SPECIFIC QUESTION, PLEASE

0

What bird is this?

2

Did you know Hummingbird-flower mites?

0

where is everybody?

0