Dive-Bombing Birds: What Illinois Park-Goers Need to Know This Season

Do you love taking walks along the Rock River bike path in Rockford or through Sinnissippi Gardens in late spring and early summer? Don't forget to wear a hat to protect your head from divebombing birds!

Illinois' Fierce Bird Protectors

Have you ever been enjoying a relaxing walk near water when you hear a loud bird whistle and the mad flapping of wings near your head? It was probably a ticked off red-winged blackbird out to get you!

The little black bird with red shoulders pictured in that video may look pretty, but the truth is he's an irritated father who will stop at nothing to protect his nest and mating territory!

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Red-Winged Blackbird Attacks

A coworker of mine was taking a stroll through Sinnissippi Park in Rockford yesterday minding his own business when all of a sudden he was dive-bombed by a noisy, aggressive red-winged blackbird, not once, but two different times!

In the bird's defense, there are signs posted all over Sinnissippi warning people about this alarming bird behavior, but the problem is the nests are hard to spot...until it's too late and you just took a bird beak to the head.

Where to Find Red-Winged Black Birds

Red-winged blackbirds typically build nests in low-lying grassy areas near water, and they are very good at hiding and protecting them. Red-winged blackbird mating season is April-July, so make sure you keep a close eye out for nests along your route. Wearing a hat and establishing eye-contact with the birds when possible is also a good way to avoid being attacked.

Here's what the warning call of a red-winged blackbird male sounds like and some more fascinating facts about the bird...