Friendly Robin

[malvern quilter]

During the spring & early summer my wife seemed to be adopted by a Robin. It would come down to her when she was in the garden, perch within foot of her and Chirp looking directly at her. It even perched on her head and woulkd often eat seed we left on the front doorstep.. Soon after this however its demeanour changed and it is now more furtive. this we have put down to another Robin chasing it away, why would this be any ides?

[accipter]

Sounds like territorial behaviour, robins will fight until the death over their patch of territory.

[Gatekeeper]

It could be that your robin was/is 'in moult'. After the breeding season most birds moult into winter plumage. At this time they are/feel vunerable and can get a bit secretive. It may go back to it's old ways when this is over.

Another possibility is that your robin was only resident in your garden in the spring and summer; it may be wintering in some other area.

[accipter]

Is it still around? it may have kicked the the bucket I believe they don't live that long.

[actionfinch]

what a lovely story.. i have a robin that does that , not as close mind , but when im doin the garden it comes down to see ...

[Gatekeeper]

I have a robin that comes to the garden everyday. It likes to 'oversee' my gardening work, probably in case I unearth a fat grub I must admit that I'm quite fond of it and when it calls or sings, I..errr..whistle back at it The robin always responds and this can sometimes go on for 20 minutes or so

[actionfinch]

Originally Posted by Gatekeeper

I have a robin that comes to the garden everyday. It likes to 'oversee' my gardening work, probably in case I unearth a fat grub I must admit that I'm quite fond of it and when it calls or sings, I..errr..whistle back at it The robin always responds and this can sometimes go on for 20 minutes or so

i have tried doing that , but im sure it thinks im mad....or when i do start to whislte the dog comes out and scares it away

[Gatekeeper]

Originally Posted by actionfinch

i have tried doing that , but im sure it thinks im mad....or when i do start to whislte the dog comes out and scares it away

I very often sit on a bench in my garden and the robin will come and perch in the hedge a few feet away and engage in a soft, 'sub-song', which I respond to with my own inept whistling. The cares of the world quickly disappear.

[willowjay]

"My" robin looks at me very sternly through the patio door if I haven't put food out for him/her. There is a fat ball feeder on the pergola above, and the robin just sits underneath waiting for bits to drop off. But it's not quite the feast the robin demands - so I go and scrunch up another fat ball for the robin on the ground.

I suspect, later on, the local hedgehog has some supper ...