Are you fond of gardening? Do you have a Robin Redbreast that follows you around the garden? If the answer is yes to one of these questions then read on..
A lot of people are under the impression that different birds visit their garden everyday but it is more likely that you have had the same birds visiting your garden (with the exception of the odd visitor), that live in defined geographical territories, and are often generations of the same family. For example I have a gang of 7 cheeky sparrows which I call the 'scrappers', a mating pair of collared doves that have nested behind my skydish for the past 5 years, an old magpie, and last but not least - a beautiful Robin.
What I love about my Robin is his willingness to interact with me. Now I have trained him (or her), he swoops down immediately with the hope of a protein fix. As male and female robins look identical, I'm not sure whether my Robin is male or female - but one thing is for sure ROBINS LOVE MEAL WORMS!!
SO - here's what you do:
1. set aside a small feeding station just for your robin where you spend most of your time i.e outside your kitchen door, greenhouse or shed, and use seed, fruit etc.
2. Everytime you and him make eye contact - talk to him like you would a domestic pet.
3. Buy some protein rich mealworms and when he next visits his personal feeding station reward him with a mealworm.
4. Repeat this process for as long as it takes until your Robin associates your presence with protein.
5. Have your cup of tea next to the feeding station and call him.
6. Now hold out the whole tub of mealworms and wait for him to come to you.
7. repeat until he is familiar with you.
8. Now hold out a mealworm in your hand instead and VOILA - a trained Robin!!
NOW - when you are gardening keep a small container in your pocket and when he arrives to check the freshly turned soil - extend your hand with a mealworm and he will happily sit in your palm and eat.
A lot of people are under the impression that different birds visit their garden everyday but it is more likely that you have had the same birds visiting your garden (with the exception of the odd visitor), that live in defined geographical territories, and are often generations of the same family. For example I have a gang of 7 cheeky sparrows which I call the 'scrappers', a mating pair of collared doves that have nested behind my skydish for the past 5 years, an old magpie, and last but not least - a beautiful Robin.
What I love about my Robin is his willingness to interact with me. Now I have trained him (or her), he swoops down immediately with the hope of a protein fix. As male and female robins look identical, I'm not sure whether my Robin is male or female - but one thing is for sure ROBINS LOVE MEAL WORMS!!
SO - here's what you do:
1. set aside a small feeding station just for your robin where you spend most of your time i.e outside your kitchen door, greenhouse or shed, and use seed, fruit etc.
2. Everytime you and him make eye contact - talk to him like you would a domestic pet.
3. Buy some protein rich mealworms and when he next visits his personal feeding station reward him with a mealworm.
4. Repeat this process for as long as it takes until your Robin associates your presence with protein.
5. Have your cup of tea next to the feeding station and call him.
6. Now hold out the whole tub of mealworms and wait for him to come to you.
7. repeat until he is familiar with you.
8. Now hold out a mealworm in your hand instead and VOILA - a trained Robin!!
NOW - when you are gardening keep a small container in your pocket and when he arrives to check the freshly turned soil - extend your hand with a mealworm and he will happily sit in your palm and eat.
