Two questions

[willowjay]

Why, when I supply fresh water every day in a bird bath (on the ground - away from bushes where next-doors cats may lurk) do the robins, blackbirds and even a couple of great tits insist on perching on waterlily leaves in my tiny pond to have a bath?

and

Why does the robin continue singing, even now at 10 to 7 in the evening, to my delight, when all the other garden birds became silent months ago?

willowjay

[RobS]

Low IQ?

[RKB]

Originally Posted by willowjay

Why, when I supply fresh water every day in a bird bath (on the ground - away from bushes where next-doors cats may lurk) do the robins, blackbirds and even a couple of great tits insist on perching on waterlily leaves in my tiny pond to have a bath?

Because it's more secure - a bath in the open makes them feel vulnerable. When they're bathing nand getting wet, they like to be near/in cover so that they can hide while they dry and preen.

Originally Posted by willowjay

Why does the robin continue singing, even now at 10 to 7 in the evening, to my delight, when all the other garden birds became silent months ago?

willowjay

Robins are territorial all year round, and at the moment about a million Robins are arriving from abroad, so the territory holders need to let them and their resident neighbours know that it's occupied. Quite a lot of birds sing in autumn.

[actionfinch]

I found that out to... i got a bird bath stuck it in a nice view out in open, only the pigeons and coll doves use it ( rarely mind) , i did spot a robin in there once , but they all use the guttering on next doors shed...
time to move the bath i think