Talk:Blackbird
From Academic Kids
Unlike many other introduced species, the Blackbird has invaded natural bushland habitats in addition to alienated lands and the surrounds of of towns, and it competes with native birds. Morecombe, Field guide to Australian birds, 2000. The index to Tim Low's landmark book on environmental destruction in Australia Feral future (Penguin, 2001 revised edn.) lists the Blackbird 8 times. It's not the most serious pest bird in Oz, but it's certainly in the top ten, probably in the top five. It occupies a similar position in New Zealand (if my memory is to be trusted) and (I think) in quite a few other places too. Tannin 18:42 Feb 18, 2003 (UTC)
I'm not sure, Jim. I'm afraid I only know about Oz & NZ. It's certainly accurate for those parts of the world. I was originally unsure: was it better to say "pest in Oz & NZ" and risk incorrectly implying not a pest in (e.g.) Africa, S. America, or say "pest in lots of places" and risk getting that wrong. Either way is a mistake. I think your present formulation is good, at least until someone with more knowledge comes along to flesh it out. (They are, by the way, a serious PITA in SE Oz. Single most common bird in my garden. I go to bed at nights sometimes dreaming about designing a computer artificial intelligence application sufficiently powerful to selectively trap and kill Blackbirds and yet leave native species untouched.) Tannin
- Seems fair. I've been to USA and Canada, and not even seen a European blackbird (the native Red-winged Blackbird is the pest there). Most of sub-Saharan Africa has an unsuitable climate, and I didn't see any on my only trip to India, which has its own Turdus thrushes, but I've no knowledge at all of S America ( or Oz as you probably realise!).jimfbleak
