Garden Diplomacy
Our garden is a bit too big for us now that we are getting on a bit. Whereas at one time it would have been a hive of human activity (mine) it is now more often just me watching it grow and change with the seasons.
This can be instructive too, as discovered during a pause in a rare logging session recently.
It's big enough for multiple robin territories, so we regularly witness boundary disputes between the neighbouring pairs, especially around the bird feeders. Ours contain enough food to double the BMI of half the robins in the village, but are often the scene of stand-offs of swaying, puffed-up red breasts intended to intimidate the opposing bird – there’s plenty to go round so why can't they learn to share? They don't seem to realise that while they engage in their playground posturing the local starling mob move in and snaffle it all anyway.
We sometimes catch sight of a 'just passing through' robin too. Possibly a Scandinavian bird on its way back north after coming here to avoid the harsh winter - remember them? - that northerly parts of Europe still enjoy/endure* (delete as applicable). It bides its time, unseen in a bush, until the victor of the puffed-up breast competition chases off the vanquished opponent. The interloper then launches a smart smash-and-grab raid to carry off a sunflower heart, in what could be the general direction of Sweden.
Standing in the garden today I was joined by two of 'our' robins. They were curious about me, but almost within touching distance of each other on several occasions, so a likely sign they are a pair and that I was a bit close to their intended nesting area. They are impossible to sex on sight, but courting and mating behaviour generally makes it obvious which is which; males are well known for 'courtship’ feeding juicy grubs to his mate, not just to reinforce the pair bond but to help her build resources for egg laying. Otherwise, they need to be in your hand for closer and intimate scrutiny to tell the difference. The former method offered no clues, and the latter was not possible, so a pleasant few minutes were spent just watching and trying to deduce where in this part of their territory they were planning to build their nest.
It was a mild morning and other species were singing, so a sure sign that spring is in the air and that our pair could well have decided on a suitable site, and will have eggs in a completed nest that is completely hidden in a familiar bush or behind some discarded garden equipment by the time you read this. The first of several broods if all goes well for them.
The ultimate Peace Prize?
Robins of course aren't the only birds or species of animal that makes a big display of who's boss (or of who wants to be boss) and they do sometimes come to the avian equivalent of fisticuffs. But it's not in their nature to get carried away and do themselves or their opponent serious harm - that's far too risky as both are likely to be seriously damaged by the conflict and rendered unable to take full advantage of what they have apparently gained.
Robin’s nest - Caroline de Souza is the photographer - she lives in Marden