Robins

[Paulines7]

I bought a robin nest box a few years back and it has never been used.  This morning though, I opened my curtains and saw a couple of robins flying in and out of the box.  Even with binoculars I couldn't see if they had nesting matereial.  Isn't it a bit cold and early for them to be thinking about setting up home?

[emmy1978]

Happy day! I'm so happy for you-I hope we'll get loads of luvverly robin pics now. They are rather industrious aren't they so maybe they set to work early!

[betula]

Spring in the air??...........

[lorna]

Pauline, how exciting keep us informed of any further action. Fingers crossed for you

[Carol]

 It is the time of year to look at potential nest sites, so fingers crossed Pauline.

I have also had a Robin's nest box for years with no takers.

The Robins were singing their wee socks off this afternoon up here.  Could spring be in the air,  nar, not yet.

 

[Flighty]

Paulines7 lucky you, and no that's a sure sign that's spring is not far away!  I've been seeing two out back for the past couple of weeks.

[Toadspawn]

Pauline
The male robin does all the work building the nest, the female does nothing until it is ready for her to start laying eggs. They often start nesting early in the year so maybe you will be lucky and they will use your nestbox. I had a pair rear a brood in a box with a central hole a few years ago. The second nest in an open fronted box was abandoned but I do  not know why. I have three boxes available for robins and as there are six robins in the garden at the moment maybe a pair will use one of them but it will be their choice unless they use my garden shed again this year.

[Pesky Wabbit]

My mum always told me, the birds get married on Valentines Day and have babies at Easter. 

[Paulines7]

My mum always told me, the birds get married on Valentines Day and have babies at Easter. 

Seems like your Mum is right then, as it was Valentines day yesterday! 

There is still activity going in and out of the nest box this morning though I still can't see any sign of nesting material.

Toadspawn, that's interesting about the male robin doing all the nest building.  Mmm... she has got him well trained!   

[emmy1978]

My mum always told me, the birds get married on Valentines Day and have babies at Easter. 

That's so nice and I can believe it about robins!!

[Digeroo]

It is lovely to see the birds in action.  I was worried that the cold weather was going to have an adverse effect. 

[Vinlander]

I've had robins nesting in and around my garage/shed at least 5 times - they used to choose an inconvenient place (for me) usually 1.5-2m off the ground and behind some junk (they have a wide choice).

To benefit both myself and them I decided to replicate their favourite spaces by putting a  cardboard wine-box facing outwards on a shelf (top-half open) and I wired an old milk crate over the front to provide shielding. I put a fresh cardboard box in every year (I remember how much animals love a dry cardboard box - me included until I was about 10).

They have used it twice since but missed one year - either because I wasn't quick enough with the fresh box or possibly just because they didn't want to be too predictable.

[telboy]

Likewise - I have had a nest box for years but never seen it occupied. Have made extra effort this year & bought a few tubs of meal worms. A pair visit the table regularly at the mo. but as soon as the 'gannets' arrive(starlings), the table is cleared.
I'll keep trying!

[Vinlander]

The best way to attract robins is to turn some soil over - how do they do it?. At this difficult time of year I can count on mine arriving in a couple of minutes...

I'm training mine to eat out of my hand at the moment - I'll let you know when the video goes on youtube!

[emmy1978]

I'm training mine to eat out of my hand at the moment - I'll let you know when the video goes on youtube!

Then you can call yourself Ben Weatherstaff. 

[Vinlander]

I had to look up Ben Weatherstaff! - I graduated straight from Rupert the Bear (just last week) to science fiction and Indiana-Jones-type stuff.

There are quite a lot of hand-fed robins already on youtube - I'll need to train mine to snowboard or something...

[emmy1978]

I'll need to train mine to snowboard or something...

  Oh yes. Tiny snowboard or roller skates.

[Paulines7]

Just an update.....
The robins lost interest in the nest after a couple of days.  I hoped that the female was sitting on eggs but there hasn't been any activity at all.  I expect they have found somewhere else to nest.  Maybe next year they will decide to use the nest box.