On most days, Teri Weber enjoys going for walks on Sheridan Road in Winnetka, glimpsing Lake Michigan in between the homes she passes. However, in the 400 block of Sheridan, she was startled when red-winged blackbirds swooped down on her out of nowhere, dive-bombing her.
“The first one came from behind, and then the second one came toward my face,” recalled Weber, a Winnetka resident. “But I ducked and waved my hat and started screaming and all of that stuff.”
She’s not alone. Her recent post on social media about the bird attack drew 50 responses, and, while the situation hasn’t yet risen to rival director Alfred Hitchcock’s movie “The Birds,” in which swarms of birds start launching vicious attacks on humans, at least six other local people said they, too, had been dive-bombed.
Nancy Davidson, a Wilmette resident and commenter on Weber’s post, said she was hit twice by red-winged blackbirds just within the past month. She was doing her regular exercise routine, walking up Sheridan Road when she was dive-bombed.
“I was completely surprised, as the bird came out of nowhere,” said Davidson. “It flew into my head and was successful in getting rid of me, as I got out of there immediately.
“I was not aware of the species prior to this year,” she added.
Marketing and Communications Manager for the Wilmette Park District JP McNamara told Pioneer Press that the species is common in Illinois during spring and summer early nesting season, with male red-wing blackbirds becoming territorial and aggressive in protecting their nests from any perceived threats.
With Baha’i Temple in the background, a black bird perches on a street sign on Sheridan Road in Wilmette, near Gillson Park. In this area, red-winged blackbirds have been dive-bombing pedestrians who, knowingly or not, walk too close to their nests during nesting season. (Pam DeFiglio/Chicago Tribune)
“While the behavior can be startling, it is generally intended to deter potential predators (rather) than cause injury,” McNamara wrote in an email.
“We are aware of public discussion regarding red-winged blackbird activity this season. Actual physical contact is uncommon, and the behavior typically subsides once the nesting season ends and young birds leave the nest.”
Experts say the dive-bombing, while it can be alarming to passers by, is a natural and normal part of the species breeding season. Bridget Kiernan, a horticulturist and bird walk leader at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, said the Garden has observed an increase in aggressive behavior from male red-winged blackbirds in recent weeks, but emphasized it is normal this time of year across the Chicagoland area.
“I often say on bird walks I lead at the Garden, ‘red-winged blackbirds are good at what they do,’” said Kiernan.
“The behavioral trait of male red-winged blackbirds to defend their territory and protect their offspring, at times aggressively, has allowed the species to become so successful.”
Red-winged blackbirds often nest near water, wetlands, retention ponds, roadside ditches, golf courses and urban lagoons, she added. The dive bombing, Kiernan said, happens more frequently in June after the chicks have hatched and by sometime in July, the likelihood decreases with the breeding season complete for the year.
A woman walks down Sheridan Road in Wilmette. Red-winged blackbirds have been dive-bombing pedestrians in this area and others who, likely unknowingly, walk too close to their nests during nesting season in June and July. (Pam DeFiglio/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago resident Leah Pietrusiak experienced a dive-bombing incident herself recently near the Humboldt Park Boat House, close to a lagoon, where red-wing blackbirds sometimes nest. Afterwards, she shared to social media a post which received responses from others who’d had similar experiences.
Pietrusiak grew up in Oak Park and was first dive-bombed by birds 20 years ago when she was riding her bike along Grand Avenue.
“I took a walk really early one day, around seven or eight in the morning, and just out of nowhere he nailed my head and I was like ‘oh no, it just happened again,’” she said. “I felt it for like two, three hours afterwards.”
Unlike her first encounter where the bird lingered, Pietrusiak said this red-wing blackbird in Humboldt Park only dive-bombed once, which she saw as more of an initial warning. Now, she said when she takes a walk around the park, she plans to be more cautious of the species during nesting season.
“I’m not gonna be walking in the park without a hat in the summer,” said Pietrusiak.
Despite the seasonal nature of the species’ attacks, Weber said she believes more could be done by local officials to prevent the building of nests in public spaces and public buildings before the birds start laying eggs.
Once red-winged blackbirds lay eggs for the season and have chicks, it is illegal to remove the nests, according to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and the Illinois Wildlife Code. So early intervention is the only way to prevent the nests.
In the meantime, however, there are precautions residents can take to protect themselves in the event of a dive-bombing incident. Kiernan recommends wearing a wide-brimmed hat during nesting season, while also protecting the head and neck if the bird starts dive-bombing. She also encourages residents to familiarize themselves with red-wing blackbirds’ high-pitched, repetitive warning calls.
“Red-winged blackbirds are very vocal and give off warning calls when they sense there is any danger,” said Kiernan. “With this knowledge, residents can anticipate entering the bird’s nesting territory and choose to give the birds space or walk in a different direction.”
A National Park Service audio of the birds’ sounds can be found here or at nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/sounds-redwingedblackbird.htm