Befriended by a Robin (plus Mallard ducks)

[Dan00001]

I've been befriended by a juvenile Robin. There's Robins around every year and last year I had a Robin that would follow me around in work but this year is the first that I've had a Robin that actually comes and sit's on my knee! (It's sat on my knee in these photos, in case it wasn't clear). I also have a male and female Mallard that have been coming every morning for two years now for food. The male hasn't been for over a week which is unusual, I do hope he is ok.

 

[Chris]

Another photo of Dan:

 

[Paul_B]

I once did a stupid thing. At about 12:30 I set off on what I thought was a 3 hour walk. It was not but a 3 mile walk and I finished it in less than an hour. So I saw another colour of walk (in a forest) that I thought was supposed to be 9 miles (it included the 3 mile route just finished). So I thought i had just enough time. It was actually a 9 hour route!! Being midwinter not a wise option. But I was fit and pretty much blitzed most of it and as it was going to dusk I was on the homewards run through forestry works areas with diversions.

Diversion signs were poorly places and and I kept going wrong. Then I turned to a chirping noise that seemed to keep following me for the last 15 minutes when I was getting lost an having to retrace my steps. I turned and told it to eff off. That was when I smiled and saw a robin. What I smiled at was the this way diversion sign. I then finished the walk by listening out for the chirping Robin sat on the diversion sign. My little guardian bird that was as the diversion was extensive and poorly signposted. However that Robin or several of them all sat on the posts to attract my attention to the sign.

I know that it was not looking after me but sat on a convenient post and issuing a warning or territorial call but part of me to this day does not want to believe in reality on this and think that my guardian spirit is a Robin. We have one in the garden and it is friendly too. Won't come up to feed off your hand like I have seen Robins at Skelwith Bridge picnic tables but it is still a friendly bird to see in the garden.

BTGW to them in the garden (possibly woods) we are just a strange boar turning up the soil to expose bugs for food or disturbing insects from the undergrowth as we walk. We are fulfilling the role of big forest animals in the feeding habits of Robins, but we still see the character of them coming out in the interaction. Our little garden friends. Our interpretation and reality can both be the truth, right???

Sorry for the long ramble. It was basically to say I have an affinity to Robins. And Ravens but that is another couple of slightly shorter tales behind that raven affinity. I will save your from those stories.

 

[Paul_B]

I grew up with Mallards visiting our garden. They are the pigeons of the duck family IMHO.

We got one duck waddling about 500m from a tiny pond in a field opposite us. it visited our lawn and we fed it bread. The next day it came back with a female and we fed both. By the end of the week we had about 20 mallards coming to our front lawn and driveway and they even tried too get into the back garden. We stopped feeding them and several weeks later they all stopped coming over.

Beware feeding the Mallards. Once others spot this one duck disappearing at the same time every day to visit you others will start to follow. You could end up with a problem crowd too!!

Robins are ok as they are territorial and you will only end up with one sooner or later.

 

[Dan00001]

It's definitely more than a simple case of food like with the ducks. This Robin hangs around me all day long, I don't think it's been out of sight for more than 5 minutes.

 

[Paul_B]

Aawww! You're it's Mommy!

You do know that to teach it right you need to feed it live meal worms by your mouth!

 

[Dan00001]

Aawww! You're it's Mommy!

You do know that to teach it right you need to feed it live meal worms by your mouth!

I need to get some mealworms!