Blackbirds ....?

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

No, dinny! Their 'Alert' calls!

 

I figured some of you guys might be the best to ask, as my own boss isn't available just now.

 

We all know that classic, clattering scream of a Blackbird surprised and flushed by a human.

 

Then, there's that metallic " Pink! Pink, Pink! " which denotes a mustalid creeping about.

 

But, yesterday, I was getting " Poot! ". Ye know, that slightly subdued, almost regretted little sound they make?

 

I spotted the bird too. He was sat in the hedge, between the ditch and the field. No visible signs of agitation.

 

Yet, there were smaller birds moving around him. A sure sign, to me, that he's warning the world of something and they've come to check it out.

 

Obviously, I wanted to check it out too. But, stand by the ditch and the gate as I may, nothing showed.

 

Yet, I'm as sure, as a deaf and poor sighted husk of a former self can be, that the bird was very gradually moving up my way.

 

Now, Today, I glanced out and saw an adult, male blackbird. Then glimpsed the nicely grown youngster, nearby.

 

Got me wondering; Could that have been the adult bird, yesterday? Watching over and vocally encouraging this juvenile in some way?

 

Dunno. The jury's well and truly out on this one. Why would he have drawn so much attention to his own youngster? Doesn't add up.

 

Was he warning the youngster that something was afoot, in that ditch or the field?

 

If so; Why not " Pink "? Why that subdued " Poot! ".

 

'Boys', please, step aside. This is talk for the Men!

 

[OldTrapCollector 377]

Pinking is for hawks and owls, the dull short 'poot' sound is for cats and stoats etc

 

Most folk wouldn't even know what your talking about

 

OTC

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

:notworthy:

 

I did think of putting this in the Gamekeeping section. Not the sort of shit covered by 'Pest Control' bits of paper, is it?

 

[Tiercel 6,986]

Funnily enough, We have some black birds in the bottom hedge, and they are regually stalked by the local cats. I have always intrepreted the pink pink as a call when danger is imminent or the bird is surprised, once the fact that there is danger about is transmitted by the pink ping call, and they feel they are at a safe distance, the call seems to mellow to the less frequent poot or poot poot call.

 

That is how I have intrpreted it.

 

TC

Edited July 23, 2013 by tiercel

[21dangermouse 86]

This may help you http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9zbtAxQdZcU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D9zbtAxQdZcU

[fireman 11,107]

The ones round my garden pink at the cats some of the feckwit neighbours have,gives me a warning signal to get my arse out and do something about it and saw a big old ginger cat get lifted off my old boy neighbours bird shed with a good old pebble the other day but feck knows where it came from but the blackbirds gave it away with their pinking .

[jack68 628]

Pinking is for hawks and owls, the dull short 'poot' sound is for cats and stoats etc

 

Most folk wouldn't even know what your talking about

 

OTC

 

beat me to it mate,,,atb

[stealthy1 3,964]

The Blackbirds in my garden follow and face in the direction of cats while pinking, all the birds in my garden then head for the tree's, and my GSD races towards the pinking Blackbird because he knows what's lurking Other birds in my garden have a cat call which the other bird species seem to know well also

[gonetoearth 5,144]

Pinking is for hawks and owls, the dull short 'poot' sound is for cats and stoats etc

 

Most folk wouldn't even know what your talking about

 

OTC

. My fav bird for alert call and your spot on otc. I learnt all the calls of old keepers. The dull poot call is my fav i sat the other day listening as the blackey came up the the hedgerow calling i new a stoat or weasel was coming my way low and behold dancing and rolling he came up and down the bank. In and out of the roots washed away at the bottom of the ditch he came within 3ft of me the stopped scenting he spotted me leaning on the gate post took a long look at me then darted back whence he came. Later we were alerted up in the canopy of trees blackie shrill cackle. To alert of an owl. Little one on this occasion Skills and sounds past on years ago still enjoyed to this day !!!!!

[tatsblisters 10,687]

Magpies seem to set them off with the pinking tone especialy [BANNED TEXT] they have young about.

[Millet 4,497]

In my garden they scream the place down at cat's and Magies but they make that quieter slower warning noise if they have young on the ground or in the bushes when i let the dog's out..but i suppose with your location your Blackies will have witnessed different dangers to the one's in my garden and may well behave different to the different danger's..

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

Aah! Millet! And I'd just written:

 

I had one 'pooting' today, as it happens. I wonder though, as I'd just let the Dogs out.

 

Perhaps this bird is used to seeing them and recognises that they're not a serious threat as they don't do any sneaky behavioural stuff. Probably just commenting on the fact that something was there at all then.

 

 

I think we're in agreement on this aspect then?

[Millet 4,497]

[pip1968 2,490]

with me i automatically know when a bird gives a distress call its something you learn from an early age you just know danger isnt far and either look up to see starlings or sparrows hit the bushes when a sparrowhawk is around or if its a cat they usually pester it and mobbing it with distress call letting other birds know its around the same as corvids do with foxs

[iworkwhippets 12,897]

No bot flies on you pip, eh