Sad but nature

I have a pair of blackbirds that regularly nest in the ivy round my lilac tree - last year they had one chick fledge, but it died, and then they reared another couple. This year again they had an early first chick that died before fledging, and they started again.

For the last few days I have watched both parents ferry food back to their second nest, and hear the sound of a chick(s) today.Sadly this afternoon I saw the male sitting in my border looking apathetic. Could hop and flutter, but did not look well at all. So it looks like mother blackbird is coping on her own.

I hope he recovers and can rejoin the fray - he looked so sad and am not sure mum will be able to do it on her own.

 

Oh dear Fran,what a pity.
I had two nesting three weeks ago but they never finished building,and I haven't seen the pair in the garden for ages...I wonder if the Magpies here are upsetting them??

 

We are keeping our fingers crossed for a pair of blackbirds that are nesting in a very small privet hedge only 6 feet from our back door and hoping they will manage to rear their young successfully. Their nest is within inches of nextdoor's back gate and the children are always rowdy, playing football etc. Seems a rather a noisy place for them to choose. Haven't managed to peep to see how many eggs they have as I don't like to disturb them.
How long is it before the eggs hatch?

 

The noice shouldn't bother them at all, they will have been aware of it when they built their nest - though don't peak.

The female usually goes missing for a bit when she's incubating the eggs - as I recall, it takes 1-2 weeks to hatch and then a further 4 weeks til they leave the nest. Blackbirds unlike bluetits, do not fly from the nest but spend some time on the ground being fed by their parent. You can tell when the eggs are hatched by the fact that the parents are carrying food back to the nest.

Very tempting, but try and avoid peeking.

Slight good news today - when I went out this morning I though I would find a dead papa bird but no. Moma is still feeding young - but not sure she's finding enough. However late afternoon whilst messing around with my motorcaravan, I disturbed papa blackbird. He looked bright eyed, and hopped well - but not sure whether he can fly - perhaps bruised or strained something. At least he survived the night. If he does fully recover, I wonder whether he will resume parental duties, or have lost that instinct over time. I have heard the mother calling him with the food call they use when mating.