Befriending a bird

[freshhead]

Slightly random thread, but one that will intrigue me!
I have a male and female blackbird that have been coming in to my garden for the past 2 years.
Has anyone got any stories of birds they’ve managed to ‘befriend’ and any tips on how to gain their trust?

 

[rainbowlemon]

We have two wood pigeons that started coming daily. We put out bird seed but they’re too scared for us to be out in the garden at the same time.

We also get a few other smaller birds now too.

 

[freshhead]

We have two wood pigeons that started coming daily. We put out bird seed but they’re too scared for us to be out in the garden at the same time.

We also get a few other smaller birds now too.

So nice to see the same birds every day isn’t it. I’ve heard stories of birds coming in houses for food and even taking out of peoples hands so I want to know what the secret is!

 

[bubbadabut]

A female duck has been visiting me for the last 3 years. This year she sometimes brings some fellas with her. She will often follow me and the kids home from school. She's here right now and will come in the house if I leave the door open

She's used to me and my family and barely flinches when we need to get past her. I put food and water out for her. The only problem is the poo! We have to get the jet washer out a lot more than usual.

 

[freshhead]

A female duck has been visiting me for the last 3 years. This year she sometimes brings some fellas with her. She will often follow me and the kids home from school. She's here right now and will come in the house if I leave the door open

She's used to me and my family and barely flinches when we need to get past her. I put food and water out for her. The only problem is the poo! We have to get the jet washer out a lot more than usual.

How lovely is this! Has she had any babies yet!? Amazing that she’s become used to you and your family

 

[Snippysnips]

In my old house I had a family of blackbirds I could feed from hand, they got used to me in the garden then the neighbours cat attacked the nest with their young, managed to save 3 out the 4 young an I guess I earned full trust, I still wonder if they still visit the garden to this day

Currently in this garden I have 2 wood pigeons, 2 magpies, bunch of little finch's, generations of starlings, a robin an a family of crows, I am very slowly gaining trust with feeding favourite food like berries, nuts, seeds, large balls an mealworms etc they are getting used to me at the door but still a bit wary if am in the garden, I have a nature reserve out back so really get a ton in the garden at once

 

[Sibz]

A female duck has been visiting me for the last 3 years. This year she sometimes brings some fellas with her. She will often follow me and the kids home from school. She's here right now and will come in the house if I leave the door open

She's used to me and my family and barely flinches when we need to get past her. I put food and water out for her. The only problem is the poo! We have to get the jet washer out a lot more than usual.

We used to have ducks visit us every year for 2-3 years, I think it's their nesting season and they come inland to nest out of the water. All because we fed them once, and they came back every year after that! They'd sit in the front garden and snooze like yours are, waiting for food, so sweet amazing how they remember

 

[freshhead]

In my old house I had a family of blackbirds I could feed from hand, they got used to me in the garden then the neighbours cat attacked the nest with their young, managed to save 3 out the 4 young an I guess I earned full trust, I still wonder if they still visit the garden to this day

Currently in this garden I have 2 wood pigeons, 2 magpies, bunch of little finch's, generations of starlings, a robin an a family of crows, I am very slowly gaining trust with feeding favourite food like berries, nuts, seeds, large balls an mealworms etc they are getting used to me at the door but still a bit wary if am in the garden, I have a nature reserve out back so really get a ton in the garden at once

Wow you fed the blackbirds by hand!? I’ve read that they are really intelligent and remember people. Amazing that you saved the babies
What is the best food to entice them with? The male blackbird I have visiting seems to be a bit friendlier than the female. I caught the female using my garden water feature as a bird bath earlier
I have loads of starlings in my garden too, they all fly together and about 30 of them all sit in a line on the fence after it’s rained. Have a soft spot for the blackbirds though, I’ve even named them
Must be lovely to have so many birds visit, do you see much of the Robin in the warmer weather?

We used to have ducks visit us every year for 2-3 years, I think it's their nesting season and they come inland to nest out of the water. All because we fed them once, and they came back every year after that! They'd sit in the front garden and snooze like yours are, waiting for food, so sweet amazing how they remember

Funny you should say this as we have a male and female duck come in to our road at the end of April, start of May! We don’t know where they come from but they hang around for a few days around peoples front doors and get fed! I love ducks so I wish they were around more. So nice that you know they’ll be back next year

 

[Snippysnips]

Wow you fed the blackbirds by hand!? I’ve read that they are really intelligent and remember people. Amazing that you saved the babies
What is the best food to entice them with? The male blackbird I have visiting seems to be a bit friendlier than the female. I caught the female using my garden water feature as a bird bath earlier
I have loads of starlings in my garden too, they all fly together and about 30 of them all sit in a line on the fence after it’s rained. Have a soft spot for the blackbirds though, I’ve even named them
Must be lovely to have so many birds visit, do you see much of the Robin in the warmer weather?

Thanks, had to do my best, the nest was in our garden tree an the perfect height to be able to look in so I watched it all from eggs to little hatchlings an they were only days away from flying when the cat attacked as well but am happy 3 were saved an they come back every summer

Honestly meal worms are the best for any birds especially during the time when they have young, I hydrate them with water to make them more softer, it just takes so much patience an holding your hand out while being as still as possible, its worth the wait though, just make sure to be in a comfortable position on the ground lol, eventually though they will come up to you

Lol I have so many starlings that it's like a scene out the birds when they all come into the garden an they are incredible loud as well

Don't get to see the Robin much in warmer weather but he's round a lot in the winter

 

[Piff paff puff]

I'm a massive bird nerd and living out in the sticks see them ALL
I've observed, fed and loved them these past few years and I don't think there is a quick way to gain their trust. As you must have noticed they are most hungry at breakfast time, so perhaps try to tempt them closer with food at that time.
Blackbirds (and every other bird) absolutely love home bargains ultimate large balls. Although I only feed them these in winter as they melt in summer and can kill the young if taken back to the nest due to clogging up their tiny beaks.
This is the best time of year to try befriend birds though as they're all desperate for food for their chicks, and the fledgelings themselves aren't yet savvy and will often be quite bold around people. I had a fledgling great tit jump into my bird food container as I was holding it ready to fill the feeders, happily munching away as I looked on
A good way of getting closer to them is a see through plastic bird feeder you stick onto your window.
I currently have a house Martin nesting above my front door and pheasants and partridges, doves, squirrels, stoats, you name it, they wander around and if I dare to step out of my front door they think it's their area and I'm the unwanted guest!
The bats come out at night, fly around my home, I installed a bat box but unsure if they've used it. There's frog corner, a nature pond, wild flower meadow, fruit trees. Its a mini nature reserve in the middle of nature
Sorry to go off piste but nature is magical and to know others appreciate also makes me happy

 

[prozacprincess]

I have a resident pheasant called Francois. He hangs around most days and occasionally brings a lady friend. I’ve also got blue bits who come back every year to nest in my bird house and of course the swallows who build their nests on my house. I love to watch them all but I’ve never tried to befriend them.

I’m actually a bit scared of birds due a series of unfortunate incidents with a cockerel , a swan and a budgie as a child … it’s a long story or 3 stories to be exact

 

[freshhead]

I'm a massive bird nerd and living out in the sticks see them ALL
I've observed, fed and loved them these past few years and I don't think there is a quick way to gain their trust. As you must have noticed they are most hungry at breakfast time, so perhaps try to tempt them closer with food at that time.
Blackbirds (and every other bird) absolutely love home bargains ultimate large balls. Although I only feed them these in winter as they melt in summer and can kill the young if taken back to the nest due to clogging up their tiny beaks.
This is the best time of year to try befriend birds though as they're all desperate for food for their chicks, and the fledgelings themselves aren't yet savvy and will often be quite bold around people. I had a fledgling great tit jump into my bird food container as I was holding it ready to fill the feeders, happily munching away as I looked on
A good way of getting closer to them is a see through plastic bird feeder you stick onto your window.
I currently have a house Martin nesting above my front door and pheasants and partridges, doves, squirrels, stoats, you name it, they wander around and if I dare to step out of my front door they think it's their area and I'm the unwanted guest!
The bats come out at night, fly around my home, I installed a bat box but unsure if they've used it. There's frog corner, a nature pond, wild flower meadow, fruit trees. Its a mini nature reserve in the middle of nature
Sorry to go off piste but nature is magical and to know others appreciate also makes me happy

Your house sounds like something out of Snow White must feel really special to have so much nature around you. Will try the large balls when it gets a bit colder!
We have bats here too, my cat managed yo
Ground a baby one last summer, we rescued it and got it to a trained bat carer. They make the strangest noise! Nice to see them flying at night catching the moths
I love house martins, they usually
Come back every year to the same nest as well

 

[Maid22]

I'm always amazed how swallows come back every year!
We got baby robins outside, I've never seen that before, there's 3 of them, proper made me smile!

 

[freshhead]

I'm always amazed how swallows come back every year!
We got baby robins outside, I've never seen that before, there's 3 of them, proper made me smile!

Never seen baby robins either, I bet they’re gorgeous!

 

[Maid22]

Never seen baby robins either, I bet they’re gorgeous!

They are so sweet and funny to watch, I don't if it's their mum or dad with them, but they keep running up to them and they're feeding them from their beak!!

 

[Beauhead]

We get tons of ducks every spring who land on the water that accumulates on top of the pool cover. We feed them, they're adorable.
If I'm not quick enough they come to the window and look in for me.
All the females are named Bettina and the boys are Cadwell.

 

[freshhead]

We get tons of ducks every spring who land on the water that accumulates on top of the pool cover. We feed them, they're adorable.
If I'm not quick enough they come to the window and look in for me.
All the females are named Bettina and the boys are Cadwell.

Awww! Love that they come looking for you!

 

[Apple In My Pie]

I am so jealous. I just came back from a weekend at Butlins Minehead, our caravan was close to the lake. Was woken every morning by the ducks quacking. They seemed a bit scared to come near but soon came charging over when they saw we had food (mind you I’m not sure Texan bbq Pringles are the most nutritional choice) - fearless! Would have been lovely to properly befriend them.

 

[Snippysnips]

I am so jealous. I just came back from a weekend at Butlins Minehead, our caravan was close to the lake. Was woken every morning by the ducks quacking. They seemed a bit scared to come near but soon came charging over when they saw we had food (mind you I’m not sure Texan bbq Pringles are the most nutritional choice) - fearless! Would have been lovely to properly befriend them.

That reminds me of when I was a kid an we used to go to haven for holidays, we would get ducks every morning at the door wanting bread, they were so used to certain caravans feeding them that it didn't matter if it was different people, they just wanted their bread lol

I have a pond out back from me with ducks an swans that I like to go see an feed, right now bread has to be thrown at a distance though as the father Swan has quite the temper an it's even worse when his young is there, this year she had 6 young, so quite a few

 

[ZoraZ]

I love watching birds, we have a few regulars in the garden, I caught a starling taking a liking to my strawberry plants earlier it must have necked 10 in a few seconds so I might use them to befriend it