Never Annoy a Nesting Migratory Songbird, Especially If You Live in Peoria, Illinois

If you have to work downtown in Peoria, Illinois, make sure to watch your head or you may be pecked. A very protective male Red-Winged Blackbird has taken to dive-bombing people who pass too close to his nest, in the public square area. He's mad as heck and isn't going to take any intrusions on his nest anymore. Even if you're a city block away.

Officials say that as soon as the baby blackbirds are ready to fly the coop, then daddy bird will go back to his normal, everyday migratory bird life and leave everyone human alone. Right now he's on the warpath because he feels his boundaries are being invaded by the poor saps who wander in the vacinity of his nestful of babies. One by one, people flee in terror as he attacks, flapping and pecking with the ferocity of an eagle.

There's a Red-Winged Blackbird who lives behind my home, who prefers staying on the reeds and trees around our lake. He's a country bird, and stays away from humans. Every now and then, he graces us with a male blackbird posturing concert, if a female happens by the area. It's hard to imagine a blackbird being so bold as to take up residence in the middle of the city, when they can fly wherever they like to set up home. Peoria residents are sure going to think twice about approaching blackbirds after this incident.

Usually, when you hear of birds dive-bombing anyone, you think of the ever-feisty Mockingbird. Mocks are well-known for dive-bombing anyone or anything that is too close to their babies. So, what do you do if you become the target of a flaming-mad bird parent? The first logical thing to do is avoid their area altogether. After that, cover your head with something hard (a helmet first comes to mind), and wear clothing with long sleeves so you won't be pecked, if you have no choice but to wander into the bird's nesting area. Any exposed skin is fair game to a charging bird who wants to peck you. Keep your pets indoors if the nesting area is your yard, otherwise your dog or cat could be the bird's target. Even if they are lower down on the food chain than your pets, angry birds defending their babies throw caution to the wind. Better to be safe than sorry. And, for now, being safe is avoiding downtown Peoria. In a little while, the residents will breathe easy again, and be able to resume life as normal. Until then, they can all be glad Mr.Blackbird doesn't live in any of their backyards.