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Photos of the Week

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The Eurasian Blackbird, a synanthrope species

      The   Blackbird   is   a   typical   synanthrope   bird   that   benefits   from   being   close   to   us   humans.   It   has   adapted   to   human        settlements,   noticing   the   ample   supply   of   food   and   sheltered   breeding   places,   where   it   is   safe   from   the   Common   Magpie,        squirrels, and other predators.       I   was   able   to   watch   the   nest   on   the   balcony,   starting   with   the   egg   deposition,   and   the   breeding   until   the   chicks   started        leaving   the   nest.   On   May   9th,   the   little   ones   already   were   looking   quite   mature.   When   I   wanted   to   make   some   more   photos   of        the   grown   chicks   on   May   11th,   they   had   disappeared.   They   had   left   the   nest   shortly   before   and   were   roaming   in   the   near bushes now.       The   young   Blackbirds   are   not   fully   fledged   when   they   leave   their   nest   and   are   able   to   do   short   fluttering   hops   only.   They        hide   in   the   bush   and   brushwood,   protected   and   fed   by   the   adult   birds.   After   2   more   weeks,   they   are   able   to   fly   and   slowly        become independent. Another 2 weeks later, they leave their parents, going their own way.