Robin fledglings in death lock!

[seabeggar]

This morning I found 2 young robins , at the just flown the nest stage, locked in a furious pecking frenzy. My approach didn't stop them. They were not scrapping over food. I beat a retreat hoping the parents would turn up with food. 3 minutes later they were still at it. The smaller was looking weak and I decided to separate them ( tut tut) The smallest then made off hotly persued by the larger and the murder continued deep in the bushes. I decided to let nature be. Is this a common behaviour ? Seems unlikely they were nest mates or the matter would have been settled in nest ?

[Doggle Avaddit]

A great many if not all (with the notable exection of humans) animals live by the mantra that it is the survival of the fittest that is best for the species in general.
Robins are fiercely territorial and will fight to the death to ensure their own survival and thus propagate their "stronger" genes into the next
generations of Robins. That is what is best for them overall. I would guess these two were developng just such skills.

So yes, tut tut for you interfering with this process, you are NOT helping.

[greenace233]

Hi Im a sucker for helping the youngsters.. cant help it .. i do it every year.. robins are very territorial as like the blackbirds. The other day a robin chased off a starling which was trying to eat off the bird table. It was quite commical in a way.. Nature brings happiness in so many ways but the dark side is its a fight for survival.. Today the garden went went spookily quiet, i was just out there pottering about like you do. Deadly silence and then i looked up to see a sparrowhawk. It didnt stay thank goodness.. The neighbour said it finds its food probably at the allotments nearby. On a brighter note when the birds argue (particularly the starlings) i tell them off like i do the children. My son thinks im going round the twist hee hee debbie