“And down flew a blackbird …. and pecked off her nose”. I couldn’t help thinking of the English nursery rhyme as a watched these cheeky Jackdaws (Corvus monedula) working over fallow deer plucking fur for lining their nests. I expected the deer to object – “ouch, get away….” but they seemed completely unfazed and carried on chewing the cud as the birds boldly alighted and then flew off with tufts of fur. Reading up on their behaviour i discovered that they are the smallest of the crow species and are highly opportunistic. Described as ‘colonial cavity nesters’ using tree holes to chimneys, they build an outer form with sticks and line the inner side with wool or hair. No doubt that deer fur will be insulating creating a soft and warm nest. Clever creatures!



Read more at https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/jackdaw-bird-just-loves-people-178185#2HFQFRlRQtT89lK7.99