What's your Robin up to?

[posie]

Archerontia, what beautiful colouring in your photo......I've got a Robin who amongst other things sits on the edge of my bucket of rabbit mix,when I am feeding round, and often jumps down into the bucket, without me noticing, and when I pull the jug of mix out there he is on the top of it. He also flies into the hutches one by one and feeds out of the same dish as each rabbit, a beautiful sight. As others have said he welcomes me with a song, which is also beautiful. (I have posted this post before,)...Posie.. PS what IS that on your robin's right leg,Archerontia, is it a ring, or a Message HeHe.

[BlueJam]

I've got a couple of them that visit from time to time. Really nice birds, I always love seeing them.

[acherontia]

Lovely stories! 'My' two have changed their mind already - it may be the hide (we left the windows open) now! I think you're right about the various sites, Pauline I suppose they like to practice and see which one is best site wise. Also - as they don't seem to live much longer than 2 years the majority will be novices?

Originally Posted by posie

PS what IS that on your robin's right leg,Archerontia, is it a ring, or a Message HeHe.

On the higher resolution image you can see it says -

'Available for serious relationship'

My robins have no rings - they're obviously not as important as reserve robins.

Acher

[posie]

Originally Posted by acherontia

Lovely stories! 'My' two have changed their mind already - it may be the hide (we left the windows open) now! I think you're right about the various sites, Pauline I suppose they like to practice and see which one is best site wise. Also - as they don't seem to live much longer than 2 years the majority will be novices?



On the higher resolution image you can see it says -

'Available for serious relationship'

My robins have no rings - they're obviously not as important as reserve robins.

Acher

Who put it on there Archer, why is it there? or are you teasing me?

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by posie

Who put it on there Archer, why is it there? or are you teasing me?

Ahh, there are some seriously polygamous birders who give wedding rings to lots of birds .... And there was one birder locally to me who was not satisfied with one ring so instead put 4 rings on each bird, one ring metal, the other three coloured, two rings per leg. That way he knew exactly which of his wives was which by the colour combination. Well one robin does look rather like another, and they get offended if you call it by another's name ...

[acherontia]

I like!

'My' robins have gone back to the shed as a nesting site. Female prerogative and all that. As mine haven't got colour co-ordinated promise rings I'll never be sure whether he wasn't with another ladyfriend when the hide was checked out yesterday!!

Speaking of bird 'infidelity' we had a female blackbird last year who had two males on the go (one had a white patch) at nesting time. One of them left his kids to be 'raised by a stranger' DNA studies have shown this is often the case.
Sounds like the Jeremy Kyle () show.

Acher

[Cheryl]

The "chief" robin in my garden (we have 3 regulars) is a real thug and normally "sees off" the dunnocks in particular but over the last few days I've seen it chasing off the one thrush that visits and any blackbird that comes in to feed, but the minute I go out into the garden it flies down near to me and stays close by - twittering away

Today I was clearing the tubs ready for some spring planting and one of them had loads of vine weevil larvae which I put out onto the patio for the birds - needless to say the robin hogged it all - it hardly left my side

[k4t3]

Got up slightly later than normal this morning after working late, light covering of snow on the ground. Usually fill all feeders and tables early in the morning.....immediately outside the porch door in the snow, little, suspiciously robin-sized prints in the snow....think they planning to break and enter next

[acherontia]

They certainly know the advantages of sticking close to humans. They really 'use' us

My 'two' (the male in a supervisory role) are back building in the shed. I think the clincher was me going in an out yesterday to put washing in the dryer (apologies for not being eco there but I have excuses) and Mrs R was sometimes waiting for me to leave. If I were a robin I would probably seen signs of impatience

I like the idea of bird breaking and entering LOL ... Or 'chirping with intent'

Acher

[animartco]

Hi Sheffield Lass,
My birds ring themselves. One little duck put a pampas grass ring around her neck. It was huge, and tight, went all the way up, and her head was sticking out the top like one of those ancient African women with all the necklaces. It was really stiff took ages to get off and she wasn't at all grateful! She must have thought she was the bees knees all dressed up.
Oh its a Robin thread isn't it. My little robin loves appearing on nearest twig or wire, two inches above my head. It's a bit disconcerting when I hear a song in my ear hole!