ROBIN REDBREAST
For many of us our favourite winter and Christmas bird is the robin . Not only is it a cheerful and friendly bird , it has also been planted in our culture that has flowered over many years from various seeds . But there is a third angle to this songbird .
The reason why it is a Christmas bird is because the robin has a red breast which originated in the Holy Land at the time of the crucifixion . Jesus ’ blood was supposed to have stained the bird and coloured the robin ’ s famous bib . In medieval times the bird was used as a Christian name , such as Sir Robin in the tales of King Arthur and the great Robin Hood amongst others . Other British medieval folklore grew around Robin Redbreast . The stories signified that the bird was or should be related to Jenny Wren , extending from cousin to fiancé and even as a married couple . Developing from many oral traditions , the poem of Cock Robin was finally written down in the 1700s . The Victorians furthered the tradition by associating the robin with farms and snow which developed into our modern day Christmas image . However for historians these pictures have nothing in common with the Passion which happened in a hot and arid middle-eastern country , two thousand years ago . The robin manages to upset very few people , which in this day and age is an absolute marvel ! Moreover many of us are pleased when one turns up and hangs around for a few minutes . These include gardeners tilling the ground , rousing the birds ’ prey which lies in beds of soil . Over many years robins have learned to anticipate the gardener ’ s work and have successfully interpreted this as signs of potential food .
Perhaps it is the gardener ’ s friend which was one of the creatures that helped us dig up the phrase ‘ an early bird catches the worm ’. But the reason why robins are friendly to homo-sapiens is not because they admire our good looks , nor because of our moral or ethical behaviour in the natural world . This friendship is due to their need to catch their necessary daily amounts of food ! Surviving in the harsh frosts and snow - and even in the lush summer season is not as easy as it seems to be .
Relaxing in the garden , I have dreamt of perfectly balanced rural idylls . However seemingly peaceful they are , worms , insects and other prey species lose their lives to these birds every day . Moreover , songbirds such as robins are also killed by sparrow hawks , other birds of prey as well as to land carnivores such as cats . For those , this world is no such dream .
Andy Mydellton , author and journalist , leads the South Buckinghamshire registered charity , the Foundation for Endangered Species . Being based in South Bucks , they are in a position to advise people in this area about wildlife .
Contact Andy on 01895 520184 email info @ ffes . org . uk www . ffesorg . uk
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