For the third year in succession a pair of Robins have built a nest among the shrubs in our front garden. Rather uplifting watching them busily coming and going, especially in these uncertain times.
But today, not so good. For the third year in succession the ginger and white cat that lives locally has found the nest and shredded it, killing the single chick and leaving the mess for me to clean up.
Of course, as is widely recognised, the cat is unable to catch the adults. They are still in attendance, rather distracted, perhaps attempting to repair the nest and try again.
I have a theory that domestic cats do great harm to our bird population. Not by killing adults but by destroying nests as in this case. Robins often build nests at low height making them especially vulnerable.