Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: angieinto on March 05, 2011, 02:12:31 PM

Title: SPRING IS HERE!!!!
Post by: angieinto on March 05, 2011, 02:12:31 PM

RWBB's reported at Lakeshore & Islington today!  :D

Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on March 05, 2011, 02:24:20 PM

Hi Angie.  Thanks for the forewarning.  Any day now, male RWBB's will be pecking the back of my head at Lake A.   :shock:   :lol:   Can't wait to see and hear them!

Title: heads up
Post by: Howieh on March 05, 2011, 05:34:29 PM

Quote from: "Bird Brain"

Hi Angie.  Thanks for the forewarning.  Any day now, male RWBB's will be pecking the back of my head at Lake A.   :shock:   :lol:   Can't wait to see and hear them!

I strongly suggest you don't turn your back on them! at least that way you'll have a chance to duck :)

Title:
Post by: dbellilo on March 05, 2011, 08:57:31 PM

A quick question:
How many of you have lost actual BLOOD due to a RWBB peck to the head.
I have!
No jokes!
But please, be truthful!
Holy god, those nasty blackbirds are demented and vicious but I love love love them. I admire their pluck and their protectiveness of family!
A second question: if a RWBB pecks at me, is it morally wrong of me to peck back in self-defence?

Title:
Post by: angieinto on March 06, 2011, 06:23:19 AM

I think I spoke to soon about Spring! It looks like a winter wonderland out there!!   :shock:

I've never been pecked by a RWBB, but I have had one sit in my hand for a few "minutes" eating peanuts at High Park!  :shock:
Me and my friend had a nice little chat the whole time this guy just sat in my hand and ate away. It's one of those moments I will never forget, or her.

Title:
Post by: Rob'in'To on March 06, 2011, 08:17:24 AM

We've had this happen a number of times now and always in High Park (hand feeding the RWBBs).

As for being attacked (strafed?), it's not happened...  yet.  But I have seen people running away from them along the path near Grenadier Pond.

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Post by: birdstitcher on March 07, 2011, 08:57:52 AM

I had a female blackbird chase me out of the path above Grenadier Pond, pecking at my head all the way. No blood, had a hat on! Did not even hear her coming, too focused on watching a warbler. Also beware of the downies in High Park...they fly out of nowhere and land on you looking for a handout :D

Kerri

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Post by: ravynne40 on March 07, 2011, 12:08:39 PM

Wow I need to go to High Park with you guys! lol, all the times I have been there that's never happened to me, maybe having a RWBB eat out of my hand might cure the fear I have of them :) not because I have been attacked, but from all the stories of people being dive bombed by them

Angie? what kind of peanuts do you carry? By the way, nice blog I enjoyed reading it!

Title:
Post by: angieinto on March 07, 2011, 01:15:34 PM

We usually carry a variety; peanuts in the shell, black oil sunflower and unsalted shelled peanuts, and thanks for the compliment on the my blog.  :D   I had a Blue Jay land in my hand yesterday, which I'll be blogging about later this week. He landed in my hand 3 times, and in Rob's as well. It was amazing!

Title:
Post by: ravynne40 on March 07, 2011, 01:56:54 PM

Thanks :) I will see if I can pick some up tomorrow, have the day off so I am planning either Lambton Woods or the other half might surprise me and take me to the zoo? I been wanting to head out to see this "tundra trek" :)

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Post by: thouc on March 07, 2011, 09:34:08 PM

There were pretty many blackbirds (Red-winged and Grackles) on the way to Windsor today, so I guess spring is here even if it doesn't really look like it.