Blackbird nesting in garden shed, concern about environment for fledglings
New here and grateful for advice please! Blackbird has built nest on the top of a set of open pine shelves which contain various garden items and tools. She enters/exits through a hole to the carport about 4 feet from the nest. We've tried not to use the shed at all, but had to enter yesterday to retrieve something from a small chest freezer. Chicks are getting big, very noisy! Concerned that the growing babies may fall and get injured when they leave nest. Gaps between shelf slats, gaps behind shelves, and gap behind freezer, which they will need to negotiate to leave the shed. Should we quietly cover up gaps with sheets of hardboard, or just leave it all alone? As there will likely be more chicks later in the season we want shed to be as 'user friendly' as possible for the chicks. Husband itching to get out there today and make shed safe but not sure if we ought to just leave well alone.
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I would just keep an eye open for signs of agitated adults in case you have to step in to free a stranded chick, but otherwise I'd leave the parents to get on with it.
And keep your camera to hand
All humans can do is to try not to do harm. Keep any predatory pets away and watch Nature getting on with it.
If a blackbird continually makes bad choices about nest sites and consequently fewer of its young survive then that's as it should be ... natural selection at work.
Love Cornwall ... we'll be there at the end of this week
Sometimes you get a broken heart but that's how it is with wildlife.