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I was just digging up a border underneath a conifer hedge when I heard that familiar beat of wings and the gentle peep-peep of my favorite, the blackbird - in this case, it was Mrs B. At first, she approached from behind, checking out what I was doing, then she hopped onto the steps beside me and plopped down onto the border there. I thought that was going to be my treat for the day, but no. Eying up juicier freshly dug bugs and worms, she, quite casually, bounced along towards me until she concentrated on an area directly in front of me! Bearing in mind, there was me on one side of her, the 18" border she was on and a towering (from her point of view) hedge behind her. Now that's trust. Obviously, I was keeping still, but acherm, was talking to her, so I thought I'd try something else, just to see what would happen. I carried on digging ie making movements. To say she bothered not a jot is to say the least. Only when she had a wriggling beak full did she meander off! She was quite comfortably within arms reach. I keep meaning to take my camera out with me and a neighbour told me he feeds his by hand with raisins, so I'm going to keep a tin out in the garden for just such an occasion!
If I can get a snap of her, I'll post it on the forum!
It's such a privilege to be able to interact with garden wildlife in this way - it's almost like having a pet you don't have to look after! I can remember at my last house (there's 8mm video to prove it) feeding a couple of blackbird chicks by hand - with the parent looking on in the background. I think it was one of those chicks who later took up residence in the back garden - she was also known as Mrs B and was distinguishable from the others by a white feather on her right wing and just like my new friend, many a time I had to stop digging because she was at my feet, ridding me of my precious worms!
If I can get a snap of her, I'll post it on the forum!
It's such a privilege to be able to interact with garden wildlife in this way - it's almost like having a pet you don't have to look after! I can remember at my last house (there's 8mm video to prove it) feeding a couple of blackbird chicks by hand - with the parent looking on in the background. I think it was one of those chicks who later took up residence in the back garden - she was also known as Mrs B and was distinguishable from the others by a white feather on her right wing and just like my new friend, many a time I had to stop digging because she was at my feet, ridding me of my precious worms!
It's the curve that can set a lot of things straight!
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