Agressive Robin!

[Olivia_Giverny]

Hi I am new to this to please excuse me if I make any mistakes! Anyway I love feeding the birds and gain a lot of pleasure by doing it. We are lucky to live in suburbia and it being very rural so do have a good variety of garden birds. We do now have a very aggressive robin who is chasing away all my birds especially it would seem the male ones! I have tried moving the food away to different part of the garden but that hasn't helped. Has anyone got any ideas as my sparrows, black caps, blue tits are leaving home!! Many thanks

[Hedge Witch]

Hi Olivia - welcome
One way to make sure that all the birds have plenty is to have two or more "feeding stations" situated as far apart as possible in the garden. I don't know if this is feasible for you?

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

You need to nip outside and have a word with this robin, don`t be too hard on him but explain that he has to share and that their is plenty for everyone.

I found that putting a few little signs up with a picture of a robin on a no entry background near to food thats not intended for him helped a lot, the little devil soon got the message and stuck to his area of the garden.

[jaykay]

Steve,

thanks for the very amusing solution to Olivia's problem, think I'll try this out for myself, if nothing else I'll be chuckling anyway!!

[Pam_M]

I can only say the same as Hedge Witch and that is to put up plenty of feeders in various locations in your garden, making sure if possible that the birds will have a shrub or tree to escape to if necessary!
Your birds will still be feeding no doubt after the Robin has gone his merry way for awhile! Embrace your birds in the garden, they all have funny little ways! When we put up feeders for the birds we have to accept that possibly some birds will be greedier or more defensive on the feeders than others! Live and let live...they are all a joy! Especially the Robin's when they sing from atop a tree! Enjoy all of your birds, Olivia! The good and the naughty!

[Geoff F]

It is possible that the robin, especially if it is a male, is creating himself a breeding territory and chasing away all competition. Robins can become very agressive at this time of the year, particularly to other Robins.

Also, many of the birds who have overwintered in your garden will be starting to spread out now into other areas in order to claim their breeding space.

[Olivia_Giverny]

Thanks everyone - I will try spreading out the feeders & fat balls around the garden as I am very lucky to have mature shrubbery & trees. I havent seen the robin this afternoon so he maybe having a rest after his very busy morning!

[Pippa]

Come on guys lets be honest.Steves right ,except you have to be really hard D


This beautiful little bird is so busy defending his territory, he forgets to eat half the time and wears him/herself out.Well at least the ones in my garden do so do as HW suggests and put feeders as far apart as possible.


Just spotted your post Olivia and welcome. Pleased you did as HW suggested.Your Robin is probably dead now,worn out with all the fighting Just joking