ROCKIN’R ROBIN

I ALWAYS seem to be accompanied by a little robin when I work at this time of year. Historically, they’re woodland birds, which would follow large animals such as wild boar around, knowing that their mooting about in the dirt would uncover worms and insects for them to eat. “There you go,” exclaims my brother, “they think you are a wild BORE.”

They were popular on Christmas cards in the Victorian era, and were often associated with the red uniforms of the postmen who delivered them, and who in turn were nicknamed “robins”. That’s a little poignant really as Dad was a postman. Sadly he died 25 years ago (far too young) and now when we are visited by the little robins we always say it’s Dad checking up on us.

In one garden we work in regularly we are flanked by a battle-scarred robin, who is easy

identify and has trained us to share our sandwiches with him.

Although they seem friendly to us, they are fiercely territorial, and are capable of fighting to the death in spring to defend their patch once breeding starts.

“Our robin” is easily identified as the one side of his face is slightly disfigured but amazingly, each robin actually has its own unique red breast feather pattern, which makes it possible (though still very difficult) to identify individuals. Despite normally only living between two and five years, the oldest recorded robin was 11 years and 5 months. Hopefully our little fella will have a nice long life too.

Since the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch began in 1979, robins have featured in the top 20 sightings every single year. Although not held until the end of January 2022, you can register for next year’s event now at rspb.org. uk/birdwatch