Heads up! Red-winged blackbirds are here and ready to defend their territory

Watch below.

It’s the time of year when local walkers, joggers and loiterers keep an eye out for the red-winged blackbird, a hyper-protective parent that dive-bombs anyone who gets too close to its nest.

The Village of Wilmette is just one example of a local organization that has posted signs at nesting locations known to the community, warning residents about emotive birds.

Brigitte Berger-Raish, the village’s director of engineering and public works, said that each year a handful of residents alert the village of blackbird attacks, which usually include the male blackbird flying into someone’s head considered a threat.

“They will fly into your head. It’s quite surprising if you don’t expect it, which most people don’t,” she said.

Berger-Raish knows this very well. She remembers being the victim of a dive bomb as a high school student in nearby Hoffman Estates. She said for years she thought it was just a random — and scary — occurrence. She then learned more about the red-winged blackbird.

Now, every year, Berger-Raish and her team work to raise awareness about protective animal behavior.

Red-winged blackbirds are a migratory species that arrive in Chicagoland in early spring and typically nest and lay eggs in early June. The eggs take up to two weeks to hatch and after about two weeks the chicks are mature enough to leave the nest, causing the birds to be most aggressive between late May and early July.

“One piece of advice we tell people is don’t turn your back on them,” Berger-Raish said. “They almost always attack people from the rear.”

Blackbirds are protected by Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Intentionally harming them is illegal and can result in fines and more, the law states.

So far this year, the village has identified a blackbird nesting area on Poplar Drive, just north of Linden Avenue. Another common spot is along the multi-use trail near the Metra station; however, Berger-Raise said the village has not received any complaints related to that area this year.

Another nesting site is on the grounds of the Baha’i Temple, where authorities have posted signs in the parking lot. Birds are also found in Gillson Park.

According to National Audubon Society, male red-winged blackbirds perch high up and fluff their feathers and tails to defend their territory and attract mates. They will attack both larger birds and humans who come too close to their nests and will also use a warning song or whistle to protest intruders.

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