European Blackbird digging up mulch

Nature Talk
1

Hi

In my backyard a European Blackbird has been digging up the much and putting it on the path.

Is there any way I can stop it from doing this?

2

Hi,

you can try covering the mulch up with something like a tarp, held down with a few stones. After a while the blackbird will probably start leaving it alone.

What kind of blackbird is this? I’ve never heard of blackbirds digging.

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3

It is a common blackbird (Turdus merula)

4

Maybe?

5

I have a video of it, but I can’t add the link.

6

Note to clear up cross-continental confusion: This is a European blackbird, which is in the thrush family and is only distantly related to New World blackbirds. It is more closely related to the American robin and shares some of the same habits, such as digging around in the ground for worms or grubs.

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7

Yes @spiphany, I am from Australia and have not heard of the other blackbirds.

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8

They do that looking for food in the mulch, digging for worms and grubs. These kinds of activities usually increase when the birds are raising young ones and need a lot of food to stuff into hungry beaks. My mom has the same battle with them in her yard in Germany and just goes through and sweeps the dirt back off the path twice a day. But her backyard blackbirds are tame enough to come visit her in the kitchen when the bird feeder is missing raisins so she’s definitely part of this ecosystem.

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