There’s a great t-shirt on the market with a pirate ship in the background and this slogan: “The beatings will stop when morale improves.”
In my backyard, the beatings have just begun. The robins are at war. Robins often travel in flocks, seeking productive feeding areas and better climate, but come spring, the only friend a robin has is his mate.
Generally, in and around our yard, there will be two robin families, and they are often at odds. But now, as the normally-friendly birds seek partners and prime nesting areas, it is every bird for himself. Just this week, there have been dozens of feathered skirmishes as the dominant robins stake out their territory.
The mating instinct in birds is as powerful – maybe more so – than that of protecting the young. I suppose that nature tells birds and animals that if you lose one nest, there are other chances as long as you have a mate.
Cardinals are in another category of birds which send feathers flying each spring. And bluebirds will absolutely not tolerate intruders once they have selected their mate and nesting site.
In my backyard, robins rule the roost. They are – other than hawks – the dominant species. They can be bullies when it comes to feeders, especially mealworm feeders. I always supplement my family of bluebirds with mealworms, but once the robins find out that these juicy worms are free for the taking, it’s tough to keep them at bay. I often scatter a few mealies on the ground for the aggressive robins while my bluebirds pick a few worms from their hanging feeder.
For now, it’s a war zone in my yard. I hope morale will improve when the beatings cease.