Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Sept 6, 2010 18:09:18 GMT 1
Whilst enjoying my morning cuppa down at Llys Trerobert yesterday morning, I could hardly believe how many robins were on or around the area I could see easily from my seat. Up on the arch that leads down the slope into the garden proper, our resident cock robin was perched, and presumably to get a good view of his territory and the invaders! He was certainly making a lot of threatening noises, but the poor fellow didn't seem to know which of his rivals to send packing first! I am assuming these must have been his own offspring from the five clutches the resident pair have raised this year.
There were two very young ones just moulting and showing the beginnings of their red breasts near the feeding station close to me. An older youngster was perched on the axle of the water bowser, and that seemed aware of his 'dad' not far away. Yet another was hiding under the old caravan we have that is destined as a hide, and that we plan to build a bird 'grotto garden' around soon. Two more were amongst some old timber and zinc sheets that are awaiting use or removal, and yet another, bolder one, was perched on the little purple weeping willow sapling. The cock's mate then appeared on the gate, and when she flew over to the nearby feeding station, one of the youngsters also emerged out of hiding and all hell let loose! As the resident cock attacked that one, another emerged into his view. The poor cock spent the next five minutes or so chasing first one, then another, and no sooner did he appear to make progress, than he was distracted by another - and they were not going far! It was a bit like musical chairs or perches, as the youngsters played hide and seek with him, and as if in league with one another.
One youngster fled past me and into the workshop, to perch on the sewing machine's thread carrier - and there he/she stayed for a good ten minutes.
I cannot help but wonder how large a robin's territory is? I do hope all these youngsters manage to find territories of their own soon, else fear for them.
The robins were at it again today, too, and the fights seem to be becoming quite ferocious now. We (Peter and I) were working in the bird garden from about 9.30am until 3pm, only pausing briefly for bacon rolls, and teas, but the robins - as many as eight visible at the same time and at some points - were going in all directions, including into the building while I was cooking the bacon.
We moved the old bowser and trailer out of its corner and replaced that with some pots of plants - and the robins fought around us as we worked. We moved a picnic table and bench next to those pots - and the robins were perching on or hiding under it almost before it had been sited. It was as if they were flying blind at times in their panic. At one point, one youngster brushed past my chest as I was lifting some potatoes from the manure heap and to move a log over where they had been growing. Loads of worms and bugs exposed everywhere, but the robins didn't seem interested in food or feeding at all. It was like a battle ground.
As soon as we moved out of the way, blackbirds and dunnocks moved in to clean up the bugs, and as the robins skirmished around them.
I have never witnessed anything like it.
When one considers the resident pair have had five broods of 4 - 5 young this year, the parents do appear to have been making rods for their own backs! I suppose the bird garden has to be classed as 'prime robin territory', so only natural they are fighting over it, but it seems sad they go to such lengths to rear so many young, when it means breeding so many rivals! I am very much afraid there will be an avian murder, the way things are going - and it won't be the sparrow with a bow and arrow!
There were two very young ones just moulting and showing the beginnings of their red breasts near the feeding station close to me. An older youngster was perched on the axle of the water bowser, and that seemed aware of his 'dad' not far away. Yet another was hiding under the old caravan we have that is destined as a hide, and that we plan to build a bird 'grotto garden' around soon. Two more were amongst some old timber and zinc sheets that are awaiting use or removal, and yet another, bolder one, was perched on the little purple weeping willow sapling. The cock's mate then appeared on the gate, and when she flew over to the nearby feeding station, one of the youngsters also emerged out of hiding and all hell let loose! As the resident cock attacked that one, another emerged into his view. The poor cock spent the next five minutes or so chasing first one, then another, and no sooner did he appear to make progress, than he was distracted by another - and they were not going far! It was a bit like musical chairs or perches, as the youngsters played hide and seek with him, and as if in league with one another.
One youngster fled past me and into the workshop, to perch on the sewing machine's thread carrier - and there he/she stayed for a good ten minutes.
I cannot help but wonder how large a robin's territory is? I do hope all these youngsters manage to find territories of their own soon, else fear for them.
The robins were at it again today, too, and the fights seem to be becoming quite ferocious now. We (Peter and I) were working in the bird garden from about 9.30am until 3pm, only pausing briefly for bacon rolls, and teas, but the robins - as many as eight visible at the same time and at some points - were going in all directions, including into the building while I was cooking the bacon.
We moved the old bowser and trailer out of its corner and replaced that with some pots of plants - and the robins fought around us as we worked. We moved a picnic table and bench next to those pots - and the robins were perching on or hiding under it almost before it had been sited. It was as if they were flying blind at times in their panic. At one point, one youngster brushed past my chest as I was lifting some potatoes from the manure heap and to move a log over where they had been growing. Loads of worms and bugs exposed everywhere, but the robins didn't seem interested in food or feeding at all. It was like a battle ground.
As soon as we moved out of the way, blackbirds and dunnocks moved in to clean up the bugs, and as the robins skirmished around them.
I have never witnessed anything like it.
When one considers the resident pair have had five broods of 4 - 5 young this year, the parents do appear to have been making rods for their own backs! I suppose the bird garden has to be classed as 'prime robin territory', so only natural they are fighting over it, but it seems sad they go to such lengths to rear so many young, when it means breeding so many rivals! I am very much afraid there will be an avian murder, the way things are going - and it won't be the sparrow with a bow and arrow!