"Jack" wrote in message
...
A robin in my garden hops around with me when I'm digging, only a
foot away
from me, grabbing the insects that I disturb. It's amazing how the
robin
seems to be so unafraid at being so close.


When I lived in Co. Kerry, we had a very friendly robin, who would
take food from my hand. So I became chief worm finder! We also
had a dear little blue tit with one leg, who would come to the window
several times a day to be handed peanuts. Not a bird, but one of
the greatest experiences, was when on holiday in the Loire Valley, I
managed to get a little lizard to feed from my hand. It took days of
encouragement but then I had to constantly pick insects off the
lavender and hold them ready! Have photos of this experience and
also the robin in Ireland - wonderful.

Iris McCanna

"Jane Ransom" wrote in message
news
In article , BAC
writes
It's up to you, of course, but if you steer clear of the nest, you reduce
the chances of scaring the parents away from it,

In actual fact it takes a lot to scare off the parents once the eggs are
laid. A pair of robins used a shelf in our garage for years. There was
no way we could not go into the garage and right past the nest. They
reared several broods despite the fact that we started up cars,
extracted lawn mowers, plastic bags, garden tools within a few feet from
their heads!! The secret seems to be not to look at them. They know when
your eyes are directed at them and you can see them become agitated if
you don't look away again pretty quickly!!


Robins can become accustomed to humans very quickly - I've known several
which would take food from the hand, for instance, and I wasn't trying to
imply that disaster would automatically follow checking out progress on the
nest. I just wouldn't want to take the risk, personally.

When you were staring at your robins, did they become more agitated if/when
you blinked? I've heard a theory that robins associate blinking with biting
or swallowing, and it would be interesting to know whether you'd noticed
anything on those lines.

In article , BAC
writes


When you were staring at your robins, did they become more agitated if/when
you blinked? I've heard a theory that robins associate blinking with biting
or swallowing, and it would be interesting to know whether you'd noticed
anything on those lines.

Nope - once we realised that they were happier if we didn't look at them
we just ignored them - and we cottoned on to this pretty fast !

--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.
I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg
but if you need to email me for any other reason,
put jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see deadspam.com

"BAC" wrote in message
...

"Jane Ransom" wrote in message
news
In article , BAC
writes
It's up to you, of course, but if you steer clear of the nest, you
reduce
the chances of scaring the parents away from it,

In actual fact it takes a lot to scare off the parents once the eggs are
laid. A pair of robins used a shelf in our garage for years. There was
no way we could not go into the garage and right past the nest. They
reared several broods despite the fact that we started up cars,
extracted lawn mowers, plastic bags, garden tools within a few feet from
their heads!! The secret seems to be not to look at them. They know when
your eyes are directed at them and you can see them become agitated if
you don't look away again pretty quickly!!


Robins can become accustomed to humans very quickly - I've known several
which would take food from the hand, for instance, and I wasn't trying to
imply that disaster would automatically follow checking out progress on
the
nest. I just wouldn't want to take the risk, personally.

When you were staring at your robins, did they become more agitated
if/when
you blinked? I've heard a theory that robins associate blinking with
biting
or swallowing, and it would be interesting to know whether you'd noticed
anything on those lines.

I have a robin that follows me around the garden when I am digging, usually
keeps about 3 feet from me. However,over the past few weeks a thrush ?(light
brown, slightly mottled breast, orange beak) has been feeding 1 foot from me
as I have been clearing a border, I have never experienced this before and
it is charming.

Peter


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"Peter" wrote in message
...

"BAC" wrote in message
...

"Jane Ransom" wrote in message
news
In article , BAC
writes
snip

Robins can become accustomed to humans very quickly - I've known several
which would take food from the hand, for instance, and I wasn't trying
to
imply that disaster would automatically follow checking out progress on
the
nest. I just wouldn't want to take the risk, personally.

When you were staring at your robins, did they become more agitated
if/when
you blinked? I've heard a theory that robins associate blinking with
biting
or swallowing, and it would be interesting to know whether you'd noticed
anything on those lines.

I have a robin that follows me around the garden when I am digging,
usually
keeps about 3 feet from me. However,over the past few weeks a thrush
?(light
brown, slightly mottled breast, orange beak) has been feeding 1 foot from
me
as I have been clearing a border, I have never experienced this before and
it is charming.


It does sound charming. Song Thrushes have become a rare sight in my garden,
so I envy you.

Peter wrote:
"BAC" wrote in message
...

"Jane Ransom" wrote in message
news
In article , BAC
writes

It's up to you, of course, but if you steer clear of the nest, you

reduce

the chances of scaring the parents away from it,

In actual fact it takes a lot to scare off the parents once the eggs are
laid. A pair of robins used a shelf in our garage for years. There was
no way we could not go into the garage and right past the nest. They
reared several broods despite the fact that we started up cars,
extracted lawn mowers, plastic bags, garden tools within a few feet from
their heads!! The secret seems to be not to look at them. They know when
your eyes are directed at them and you can see them become agitated if
you don't look away again pretty quickly!!


Robins can become accustomed to humans very quickly - I've known several
which would take food from the hand, for instance, and I wasn't trying to
imply that disaster would automatically follow checking out progress on

the

nest. I just wouldn't want to take the risk, personally.

When you were staring at your robins, did they become more agitated

if/when

you blinked? I've heard a theory that robins associate blinking with

biting

or swallowing, and it would be interesting to know whether you'd noticed
anything on those lines.


I have a robin that follows me around the garden when I am digging, usually
keeps about 3 feet from me. However,over the past few weeks a thrush ?(light
brown, slightly mottled breast, orange beak) has been feeding 1 foot from me
as I have been clearing a border, I have never experienced this before and
it is charming.

I'm no expert, but the mottled brown colouring and orange beak make it
sound more like an immature male blackbird. (Warning, I have been wrong
in the past!)

In article , bigboard
writes

I'm no expert, but the mottled brown colouring and orange beak make it
sound more like an immature male blackbird.

In February??

--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.
I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg
but if you need to email me for any other reason,
put jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see deadspam.com