Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
SONG THRUSH AND BLACKBIRD 26 ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS that spring has arrived is the sound of song thrushes and blackbirds in full song. Both are familiar visitors to the garden, but their fortunes have varied in recent years. The song thrush population has declined by more than 50% since the 1970s, but blackbirds have increased. WHAT DO THEY NEED? • Both species spend much of their time searching for invertebrates on the ground. They forage among leaf litter, on lawns and in borders. They also feed on insects found in the foliage and branches of trees and shrubs, and on tree and shrub fruits, particularly during late summer and autumn. • Blackbirds have a more varied diet than that of song thrushes. Both eat earthworms year-round, but song thrushes are more dependent on them, particularly in winter and spring. Young birds are fed mostly on earthworms in spring, but insects begin to form the basis of their diet as the season progresses. Blackbird • Blackbirds and song thrushes require thick vegetation in which to feed and nest, with adjacent areas of open grass where they can forage for food. PROVIDING NATURAL YEAR-ROUND FOOD Maintain beds with a good layer of ground cover, shrubs and herbaceous plants. This will create conditions suitable for earthworms, snails and insects sought by the birds. Avoid the use of slug pellets, which can be picked up by the birds. denotes priority action For more ideas please visit: www.rspb.org.uk/hfw/advice/26 Plant a mixture of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants to provide food, shelter and nesting opportunities. Dense, thorny bushes offer maximum protection. Incorporate plenty of organic compost to help retain moisture, and provide nutrients for the plants and promote earthworms in the soil. Song thrushes and blackbirds can often be seen feeding on lawns, close to dense cover. They prefer short grass when foraging for worms, while long grass provides a valuable habitat for insects that they eat. Set aside areas of both short and long grass, retaining the latter over winter. Song thrush PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTARY FOOD • Song thrushes and blackbirds will eat apples and pears as well as dried fruits, particularly in harsh weather. • You can also offer mealworms and ‘soft bill’ food from reputable pet shops. The latter is a protein-rich food supplement intended for insect-eating cage birds. • Blackbirds will accept mealworms and earthworms that have been placed in trays of moist soil or peat-free compost and covered with moist, dead leaves. PROVIDING NESTING SITES Grow thorny bushes, such as hawthorn and holly, to provide feeding and nesting opportunities. • Song thrushes and blackbirds nest against the trunks of small trees, shrubs and climbers or in buildings and log piles. Try to preserve such potential nesting areas. • Both species can raise several broods in a single year, often from as early as February through to August. Finish latewinter pruning and cutting by the end of February and check bushes for nests before cutting. • Both species use mud to build nests. Help them by creating an area of wet mud that they can use in spring. Front: illustration by Richard Allen (RSPB); photos by Sue Tranter (rspb-images.com) and Graham Eaton (rspb-images.com). Back: photos by Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com) and Mark Hamblin (rspb-images.com). Regd charity England & Wales no 207076, Scotland no SC037654 380-0087-07-08