blackbird_attack epitome of incomprehensibility Don't get between a mother bear and her young. Don't get between a mother red-winged blackbird and her young. Don't get between a mother and father red-winged blackbird and her young after the dog you carelessly let out into the backyard without its long leash pounced upon and killed one of their fledglings. It was a week ago, which to a bird is maybe a couple of months, but what is that with the loss of a child? I'm sticking human feelings onto birds, I know, but I read blackbirds have keen memories. And the couple, he with the bold wingstripes and she with the muted grey-brown belly stripes were clearly defending their nest even before Shiloh killed one of its inhabitants. I was curious where that nest was, but didn't see it until today. I was going with Dad for an early evening walk with Shiloh - more people with the dog make him more likely to walk when the weather is uncomfortable, say hot or cold or rainy. Anyway, I saw the mother blackbird sitting on the shed. I don't remember what I said to Dad, whether I was telling him how I was partly responsible for the loss of her chick (do songbirds have chicks or is that only chickens?) But yes, just then I spotted her nest, nearby in a low bushy tree on our neighbour's side of the driveway. "Oh look, the nest!" I exclaimed, pointing up to it. Immediately, angry chirps and a whooshing. I ducked. I don't know if she touched my hat or just flew low past it, but I felt the rush of air. "Okay, okay!" went Dad, as if scolding the bird, but I was the one who added, as if it spoke English, "I wasn't going to hurt your nest! I was just pointing it out!" I can't be sure, but I don't think the bird would have swooped at me like that if she hadn't associated me with the dog and his actions. Not out of revenge, maybe, but heightened vigilance. 260715 ... e_o_i Edit: *their young (third sentence). When the dog pounced on the poor bird, both the male and female flew around him to harass him, the male more aggressively then. But I think it was the female that swooped at me today. At least, she was the only one I saw there. 260715 what's it to you? who go blather from