A surprise awaited Deborah Worsley and her family when they returned from a holiday weekend. A new lodger had set up in the slide in the backyard and looked set to stay for a bit. A song thrush had built its nest in her son’s new slide, laid four eggs, and was sitting on them.Deborah called the RSPB to ask for its advice, as this was the first time this had ever happened to her.
“We were astonished to see this wee bird sitting in a nest she had built on the landing area of my son’s slide,” she said. “I could not believe that she had chosen this place to set up home.”
The RSPB commended Deborah on her ‘good neighbourliness’.
“She did the right thing. At this time of the year, birds are nesting and rearing the next generation. This bird, a song thrush, would usually choose secluded hedgerows and trees, but this mom clearly took a fancy to the slide.
“Birds like thrushes, robins, blackbirds and tits, would be quite habituated to the presence of human beings, and although it is unusual, it is not unheard of birds making nests in anything from hanging coats in sheds to tractor cabs and even under the bonnets of cars.
“The other thing that has probably encouraged the bird to set up home here is the abundance of food. Deborah says she does not put down chemicals or pesticides, and her garden is full of insects, including snails and slugs. Thrushes love this and will help her get rid of them – to supplement their diet, she could also put out some fruit like halved apples or pears.”
Deborah has three dogs and says that the bird is now used to her and the family – including the dogs. “At first it was quite nervous, but now it knows we aren’t any threat and so will sit on the nest when we go out to do chores in the garden,” she said. “It will just watch me out of the corner of its eye.”
“It is offence to knowingly destroy or disturb a nest,” said the RSPB, “so Deborah will have to wait till the chicks are reared and away before repossessing her slide. Hopefully they’ll be gone by the middle of June – but in the meantime they will have the best views of a nesting Mistle thrush in Antrim!”
The RSPB’s advice, if you have a nest in your garden or your backyard is:
Do not disturb the nest – this includes moving it, removing the eggs or chasing the parents. This is a Wildlife Crime and is punishable by law.
If you do use pesticides, stop. And if you don’t, do not start. The birds will be using the insects to feed their young. Blue tits can feed their chicks over 1,500 caterpillars a day! Birds also eat insects like spiders and aphids.
Create little log piles in dark corners to encourage insects like slaters, millipedes and beetles.
You could supplementary feed – mealworms are very welcome, or you could put out birdseed, halved apples, cheese and bits of bacon. If feeding peanuts make sure you use a peanut feeder or the birds may feed the entire nut to their young and choke them.
Have some water available for birds to take a bath or drink from. Keep it clean and topped up.
