Hi there,
Need help. A common black bird have been hanging around in our front courtyard lately. Not only he mess up the mulch but starts making noise every morning at 6am that last for hours and disturb our sleep. Can anyone tell me how to discourage him coming? Thanks.
Ling
Ah fongling the Blackbird was introduced by homesick settlers whom valued its celebrated song. Evidently reviews on the song vary! I think moderation is key. My locals even incorporate the sound of house alarms into the repertoire.
Not much you can do I don't think, normally I'd advocate the planting of much indigenous vegetation to discourage exotics however blackbirds seem to have adapted very well to native plants. I've heard the idea of nest removal in spring to reduce the local population floated, however in urban areas they will just nest next door and this species renests immediately.
I've noticed Red Wattlebirds chase the blackbirds away during the breeding season.
Thank you. Zosterops.
The male blackbirds will stop singing soon once their breeding season is over.
The mulch-flicking is forever the bane of home gardeners, i've seen plastic barriers and minature fences placed on the edges of garden beds to provide a buffer, also the planting of thick groundcover plants to hold down the mulch and reduce exposure (perhaps native groundcovers like Dichondra, Viola banksii, Kennedia, Myoporum parvifolium or native grasses could be considered)...
Zosterops. Thanks for the info.
Removal of their nests in spring can discourage Common Blackbirds but to be effective in your neighbourhood you'll need to enlist the cooperation of your neighbours for some considerable distance around you. This might be difficult as many Australians like Blackbirds, at least partly because they've never heard or seen any of the beautiful & melodious Australian song birds. To encourage the latter you & your neighbours will need to plant lots of Australian plants, preferably indigenous species - if you haven't already. It will take two or three years, maybe longer, for this vegetation to grow to the point where it will attract lots of Australian birds so in the meantime a small investment in ear plugs might be advisable - just for the breeding season.
Thanks for the tips Woko. Cheers.