There’s a very particular kind of commotion that tells you something exciting is happening in the garden. First, a hurried back-and-forth of the parents carrying little twigs into the bushes, then faint little chirps growing louder, and finally the appearance of “the grumpy babies.”
A few days ago, my garden became the setting for exactly that: a trio of newly fledged Common blackbird chicks took their first tentative steps (and flights… of sorts), and I was very lucky to witness their first few days in the big wide world.
The Dramatic Entrance
The first chick made its debut in the evening – and what an entrance it was! Instead of a graceful glide into the shrubbery, it flew straight into the conservatory window with a rather solid thud. After a brief moment of existential reflection (and possibly mild indignation), it stood on the floor looking distinctly grumpy.
If first impressions matter, this one certainly made an impact – literally!
Morning Mayhem in the Bushes
By the next morning, two more chicks had joined the adventure. The garden bushes came alive with rustling leaves and tiny hopping bodies as the siblings explored their new world.
Fledglings don’t quite “fly” yet in the elegant sense – we might call it enthusiastic bouncing with wings. They spend a few days on the ground, building strength and coordination, which explains the constant movement and noise.
It was a relief there were no cats around because, at this stage, their survival strategy seems to rely heavily on:
- staying low and hidden (in theory),
- waiting for food deliveries,
- and making as little noise as possible (well, that definitely didn’t go to plan).
Sunbathing
The following day brought sunshine – and, apparently, a complete disregard for caution. One of the grumpy chicks decided that hiding in the bushes was seriously overrated and instead perched right out in the open on the picnic table, basking in the sun while looking mega cute!
This is classic fledgling behaviour: equal parts vulnerable and oddly confident. They’re still reliant on their parents, but already experimenting with independence – sometimes with questionable judgement.
Dinner Time
Later that same day, I was lucky enough to witness one of the chicks being fed by mum. Despite the slightly blurry photo (a wobbly bamboo branch was not the best dinner setting), the moment was incredibly sweet.
Fluff, Grumpiness, and “Tuff-Tuffs”
Fledgling blackbirds have a wonderfully scruffy charm. Their feathers are still a bit fluffy, their tails are short, and they wear an almost permanent expression of mild annoyance.
One of my favourite features has to be the tiny feather tufts near their ears – affectionately dubbed “tuff-tuffs” – giving them a slightly windswept, just-out-of-bed hairstyle. I couldn’t resist capturing that in a drawing:
“Early Childhood”
This fledgling phase only lasts a week or two, but it’s one of the most fascinating stages to observe. The chicks are out of the nest but not yet independent, learning quickly while relying on their parents for food and protection.
If you ever come across fledglings looking lost and acting clumsy, it’s usually best to leave them where they are – no matter how tempting it is to “rescue” them. Their parents are almost certainly nearby, keeping watch.
Watching these little characters hop, rustle, sulk, and sunbathe their way through the garden has been an absolute joy: cute, chaotic, and full of life. And if grumpiness is a survival strategy, I’d say they’re doing just fine.
