hiya bucks in Bourne End, Flackwell Heath, Marlow, Wycombe, Wooburn November 2016 | Page 10
ROBINS
Despite being a successful and abundant bird, many robins only survive for one year.
Some battling cock robins even kill one another in truly awful fights over territory and
the right to mate. In the garden I have often witnessed two males at war. First of all, they
posture. This is to demonstrate that one of them is the better and fitter combatant, and
that his rival ought to give up before the skirmish begins. When one of them backs down
he is still capable of moving on and living elsewhere.
Posturing usually takes a few minutes, and is a
pre-programmed ritual that all males understand, even
if it is their first dual in their first spring. Their natural
instinct tells them these signs, what to judge, how to
react and what they should to do. The ritual begins with
hopping and prancing along in parallel lines when they
carefully eye up each other’s size and shape, gauge
their physical prowess and decide on their best course
of action.
If the posturing, threats and showmanship does not
frighten off their rival, and both of them fancy their
chances of victory, they will attack in earnest.
So when I see two robins flapping their wings, ‘singing’
together and rising vertically towards the sky in tandem, I
know they are not behaving like sweet birds in a pastoral
scene. Jetting upwards in a brawling spiral is unique to
robins which can result in death for one and glory for
the other. Rarely does the bout end in stalemate. This
is because the natural world cannot allow two males to
share the prizefighter’s purse. Only one can inhabit this
territory and possess all that goes with it.
Fighting takes time, energy and skill, often resulting in
injury. This means that both individuals can end up being
worse off than before the battle. Moreover in heavier
conflicts, more serious damage can be inflicted and
death can follow.
Therefore throughout the animal kingdom, avoidance is
sensible because many species do not fight unless they
really have to. Mating, build a nest and finding food for
their chicks, whether it is one brood, two or even three,
will prove to be taxing enough. At the end of summer
many successful parents sustain shabby coats due to
these stresses, proving life to have been difficult; even if
we believe them to have been ‘happy’.
Whilst I have witnessed these vicious life and death
battles at Millstream Fork, I have only once had
the pleasure of them nesting here. This has been
disappointing, and I would like another pair to rear their
family on the premises again.
As a three or four year old, I had a soft spot for robins
when I was first told that they sometimes built their
homes in discarded kettles, saucepans and other
kitchen ware. I was transfixed with why robins would
do this and was wide-eyed at seeing actual photographs
of these nests.
Decades later I still want to see one of these improvised
nests for the first time. Even so the important thing for
the robin is the practicability of their home in terms of
siting, safety and suitability to raise at least one family
of chicks. Realistically I am only too aware that these
romantic images and yearnings are for children and
disappointed adults.
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 [email protected]
www.ffesorg.uk
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