Nature

A Redbreast for Christmas

The bird we most often associate with Christmas, and which is on many Christmas cards, is the Robin. In Victorian Britain the postmen wore red uniforms to deliver letters and cards and were thus nicknamed ‘Robin’ or ‘Redbreast’. Hence the Robin was linked with Christmas. Other names for the Robin include Redbreast, Redocke, and Ruddock. Robins are widespread and very common across Devon, apart from the open parts of Dartmoor. In the Postbridge area, numbers in the 1950s and 1960s were believed to be around 100-150 pairs. In a countywide breeding survey from 1977 to 1985, the Devon population was estimated to be over 200,000 pairs! They are early breeders and have occasionally been recorded laying in February, although they normally

start to nest in March and often the first young birds are seen in April. They lay 4-5 eggs in a hole in a wall, or a Dartmoor bank, and normally raise two or sometimes three broods of young. Robins are one of very few birds that sing throughout the year. In autumn and winter the wistful song of a Robin is often the only birdsong you hear. At this time of year males and females hold separate territories, and will strongly defend them. Originally they were shy woodland birds, but they are now found in many other habitats, including farmland, hedgerows, gardens and parks. British Robins are common garden birds and frequently come close to gardeners in the hope of a tasty worm. With patience it is even possible to train ‘your’ Robin to feed on mealworms from your hand! However, caution is needed. Like many garden birds, Robins are vulnerable to predation by cats; around a quarter (25%) of ringed birds which were later found dead had been killed by cats. They take a wide variety of insects, spiders and earthworms, feeding mainly on the ground. When available, Robins also feed on fruits, mainly smaller fruits up to eight milimetres; the wide range of fruits includes ivy in winter and spring, elderberries and dogwood from late summer to autumn and spindle from November to February. In urban areas with street lights, Robins have adapted to feeding their young at night aided by artificial light.

“Robins are one of very few birds that sing throughout the year. In autumn and winter the wistful song of a Robin is often the only birdsong you hear ”

There is much folklore about the Robin. On Dartmoor it was believed that taking a Robin’s nest was bound to be followed by the smashing of your own crockery. In Devon there was a warning rhyme that went: ‘Kill a Robin or a Wren, never prosper, boy or man.’ While an old belief was that the Robin and the Wren were the male and female of the same species! Robins occupy a large breeding range from western Europe, north to Scandinavia, south to north-west

Africa, the Canary Islands and the Azores, and east to Siberia and Iran. In Britain, Robins are largely sedentary, and young birds are likely to settle within 10-12 miles of their birthplace. In the USA, the American Robin is much larger than our Robin and is in fact a thrush, closely related to our Blackbird, with an orange-red breast. On rare occasions American Robins have been recorded in Devon, most recently on Lundy in October 2018. If you would like to know more about the Robin’s life history, it is described in the classic book ‘The life of the Robin’ written by David Lack. While he was a schoolteacher, he carried out a very detailed five-year study of a population of colour-ringed Robins at Dartington in Devon. Another enjoyable and informative book is ‘Robins’ written by Chris Mead. So, enjoy Christmas robins, on your cards and in your garden! n Anthony John

Visit Our Showroomby appointment only

WE SELL, SERVICE AND INSTALL RAYBURN Showroom: Unit 2A Westbridge Ind Est, Tavistock PL19 8DE 01822 610222