[Tweeters] Why don't we see birds on blackberries?

[Thomas Dorrance via Tweeters]

Anybody remember when the world-class blackberry patch along the slopes of
Beacon Hill above I-5 produced flocks of inebriated robins? Possibly in the
late ‘70s or early ‘80s. Considered a traffic hazard, maybe even an
aviation hazard. if memory serves.

Tom Dorrance

On Tue, Oct 8, 2024 at 7:14 PM Stan Bezimienny via Tweeters <
tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:


> Jim,

>

> I am rather positive birds feed on blackberries - and contribute to their

> spread, I see colonies of seedlings of trinity of invasives: Himalayan

> blackberry, English ivy, English holly in my garden in the areas where

> birds (I suspect robins) frequent. Our light color deck is often splattered

> with purple from bird poop, of course to prove my point I would have to run

> a formal experiment and germinate the seeds from it, but it coincides with

> blackberry fruiting.

>

> As I photograph in local parks, I notice blackberry thickets with lots if

> birds, eg in Magnuson there are always house finches in abundance, also

> golden-crown and fox sparrows, towhees etc. in blackberry thickets. In fact

> it is often difficult to find birds perching on anything else (within

> camera  reach) than a blackberry stem, so they must accept life with the

> thorns. I have lots of pictures of this sort, too many for my taste. I

> think the thorny thickets offer birds protection, rather than deterring

> them.

>

> Best,

>

> Stan

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