I love the Monty Python crew and shenanigans. I especially enjoyed their classic movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In the movie, one of the nights is dubbed Brave Sir Robin, even though he was a coward. The hilarious scene went something like this.
Minstrel: [singing] Brave Sir Robin ran away…
Sir Robin: No!
Minstrel: [singing] bravely ran away away…
Sir Robin: I didn’t!
Minstrel: [singing] When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled.
Sir Robin: I never did!
Every time I see a robin in the backyard, I call him Brave Sir Robin. I think they like the name.
Yesterday afternoon, I was smoking a cigar and catching up on my unread golf magazines when “Brave Sir Robin” lit beside me and perched on the birdbath. He saw me and fussed a little, but I believe he was more thirsty than he was irritated with a close bystander. After we exchanged greetings, he proceeded to have a drink of water. Which begs the question. What if you had to drink water without a cup or hands or any assistance? And what if you couldn’t even suck in the water? How would you do it?
Just like Brave Sir Robin, with a series of dips. Birds capture a little water in the bottom of their beaks, then tilt their heads back and let it trickle down their throats. I don’t know exactly how much water Brave Sir Robin took in, but he made six dips into the birdbath, chirped once, and then flew away.
More and more, robins stay in my yard throughout the winter. When the snow is packed, they will eat sunflower hearts, but most of all, they visit my heated birdbath and enjoy a little drink.
Good luck this winter, Brave Sir Robin!