One of my robins is behaving in exactly the same way as during the nesting / breeding season - i.e.repeatedly coming to my table feeder and taking food away. Is it likely that they have more youngsters this late in the year?
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Hi squirrel
Interesting, never heard of Robins nesting this late - maybe it is the milder weather that has caused the nesting period to extend for this Robin. Let us know if you find out anything. I love young Robins they are so attractive to look at.
The one we have in our garden is singing a lot at the moment. I think he has claimed the ground feeders as his own.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Squirrel B said: One of my robins is behaving in exactly the same way as during the nesting / breeding season - i.e.repeatedly coming to my table feeder and taking food away. Is it likely that they have more youngsters this late in the year?
Hi Squirrel
Some bird species do nest well into the autumn, especially woodpigeons! However, robins and blackbirds often have as many as three broods a year, this can often over run into the autumn especially if they lose one of their broods through predation or a period of bad weather.We often get reports of fledglings late in the year as well as very early on in the spring, in fact we have had reports of robins nesting around the christmas period!
If they are feeding young then expect to see the fledglings popping around the garden in the next week or two as they only take around 14 days of feeding before jumping out of the nest. I wonder if anyone else is still seeing parents feeding young?
Ian
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
Many thanks for that Ian - guess I'd better stock up on food as my original two pairs have already raised three broods between them (robin population explosion going on here!) and none seem keen to seek food elsewhere.
Squirrel
As an aside, can anyone explain why cock Robins will not tolerate Dunnocks on or near feeders. I have noticed it for several years, so it's not just one generation. I have asked the question of the Society and the Staff can't help, and neither could "Springwatch" (unless I missed an edition with the answer)
Densmate said: As an aside, can anyone explain why cock Robins will not tolerate Dunnocks on or near feeders. I have noticed it for several years, so it's not just one generation. I have asked the question of the Society and the Staff can't help, and neither could "Springwatch" (unless I missed an edition with the answer)
Interesting but they certainly tolerate the Dunnocks in my garden, Actually I often observe the Robins turning up with a couple of Dunnocks behind them.