THE ROBIN REDBREAST ... MY OFFICIAL HOME-STATE BIRD ... Robins are with us all year round but many people only begin to really notice them around Christmas time. The robin’s association with the festive season is believed to have begun when Victorian postmen adorned in scarlet jackets were delivering Christmas cards, and the similarly-coloured robin redbreast soon became linked to this tradition. Victorian postmen, dressed in scarlet jackets, delivering Christmas cards, are thought to have started the robin's association with the festive period. PHOTOGRAPH BY BEN ANDREW (RSPB-IMAGES.COM) They are also more obvious during the winter; birds sing either to attract a mate, or defend a territory. Robins are one of the few who defend their territory throughout the winter, and so both sexes continue to sing when the majority of other birds have stopped, even late into the night. In 1960, and again in 2015, they were crowned the UK's national bird but don’t be fooled by their charming exterior. Their aggressively territorial tendencies can make them quite vicious and quick to drive away intruders. Males may hold the same area throughout their lives, and will even attack a bundle of red feathers or their own reflection if they mistake it for another robin.
These diminutive birds are known for following gardeners around as the soil is being turned over, waiting for earthworms or other small invertebrates to be revealed. This behaviour began in European forests where large animals like wild boar were rooting around in the mud and leaf litter and the robin learned to follow to scavenge for unearthed food in their trail. To learn how to help birds in your garden visit the RSPB’s website. { www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/ } ....
