Tame robins- in the UK and abroad

[More basil]

My Danish mother is hugely envious of the tame robins (or should that be robins with tame humans?) we have 'helping' out gardening and hopping about under one's feet in the UK or who sit on the wheelbarrow/table/ shoulder when you're in the garden. Robins never do that in Denmark.

I cannot think of a reason why. There is of course a climatic difference but the climate and light is roughly the same as Northern England over there. And Danes feed birds just as much as Brits.

So I am interested:

For those of you outside the UK- do your robins become tame?

And does anyone have an idea why there would be a difference?

[Snoop Puss]

Well, the robins here are quite happy bobbing about near the house and they will come quite close. But it's such a wild area with plenty of food supplies that they don't need to come and see what I'm up to in case I might dig up a juicy bug for them. So while they're not tame in the same way as in the UK, they are tamer than other birds.

[4Shoes]

We should remember that some Robins Migrate.

Perhaps the Russian Robins (or where they have spent winter) keep to them selves more.

Perhaps give Cock Robin a map to Denmark

The RSPB: Ask an expert: My wife says robins migrate - I say NO! Who is right?

[DannyK]

The top one was let in by mistake just over a year ago. Quite a job to evict without stressing.

Bottom one appears every morning with its mate as soon as outside light goes on first thing. Whenever I have camera the mate stays in the tree!

I always carry a tin of crushed peanuts to feed them.

No idea where they nest. They've never used the expensive box I put up years ago, however three tit boxes always used.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/103667.../shares/2227Sy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/103667.../shares/6L4g6K

If you click on the small image it'll expand.

[SelkirkAlex]

down in south africa robins aren't as common but the cape robin is known as the gardeners friend, often popping up when someone is gardening.

[Snoop Puss]

If you click on the small image it'll expand.

Indeed! They both look rather plump and jolly. Bet the one on the radiator was thinking about staying put!

[Philthy]

Exposure to humans could be a reason? I think I'm right in saying that gardens and parks i.e. man-made spaces now form a crucial part of our resident birds' habitats, as wild spaces continue to dwindle, particularly so in the southeast of Britain.
The birds are around us all the time, naturally inquisitive. But they're opportunistic too, you only have to consider the odd things they make their nests in sometimes (like a shoe ), so I doubt a ready food source be it a bird table or someone chucking soil about would go unnoticed. And they're territorial. So it's not too difficult to strike a rapport with a regular visitor, you just have to be consistent with your approach. A couple of years back we had a bird that would take dried meal worms from the hand, as in perch on my finger and eat them from a cupped palm. This occurred every spring / summer for four years or so. It took a lot of patience admittedly but once we had his trust it was a great experience each and every time

[More basil]

Thanks everyone, that's interesting. There may be something in us living closely to the birds and sharing habitats. And a willingness to engage with the birds- and generosity with mealworms and peanuts!

4shoes, my mother will be deeply offended if she learns that the robins bypass her garden en route from Russia to the UK ! Better not tell her but interesting point.

[muck lover]

I have some robins in my garden. They are so nosey one often comes into the polytunnel when I’m in there. A few times I’ve opened the door in the morning only to find one has spent the night.
I don’t think it would take much to get them to eat from my hand.