Robin Recall
To prevent any misconceptions I will emphatically state that I do indeed like robins.
Not that is out of the way I have say this: Robins have got to be one of the stupidest birds out there.
Why the vitriol?
Maybe I’m just fed up with this particular batch of red-breasted harbingers of spring.
I don’t mind how they try to nest in our patio rafters every year—at least not too much since when we do allow a nest it’s plenty entertaining watching them raise their noisy brood.
I’m irritated but understanding when they lob their droppings all over my outdoor furniture—when nature calls, and all that.
I must say I get tremendous enjoyment watching them splash around in the birdbath—they are exorbitant extroverts when it comes to bathing.
I do mind one distinct and inexcusable behavior: robin reflection bobbing. Or flap and slap. I’m sure there must be a scientific term for how robins (I have yet to see other birds do this behavior) go for their window reflection endlessly flapping up against it until I shoo them away.
This is is the first year in the thirty years at this address I’ve seen this behavior.
Right—I understand they think it’s another bird and are feeling territorial…
Yet this year they are taking on car windows, the neighbor’s shed window, the office window, the living room window. These aren’t isolated incidents but repeated violations no matter how many times they are chased away.
We even blocked a window so the reflection was covered and the robin still wanted to fight with the window.
I’m doing a call out here—has anyone else noticed their backyard robins being so crazily hostile this year?
My explanation is that this year’s robins are an off batch. They give meaning to the description of being bird-brained.
Maybe there should be a robin recall. Anyone know the number of the department of defective birds? Or did that one get shuttered as well?
Pam Webb 
;>)
“In your patio rafters?” said the robin. “I don’t see your name on them.”
“Implied ownership,” replied the one who paid with sweat equity.
We have other bird breeds who like to attack one of our windows repeatedly. One time it went on for close to a minute. There is a tree nearby, and I know they see the reflection of it— most likely seeing themselves. 😊
So it’s not only robins that are acting crazy—interesting.
It’s not just robins. A friend had a cardinal who repeatedly attacked it’s reflection in her windows. And when we were traveling in southern African, crested barbets would repeatedly attack their reflections in our rear view mirrors when we were camping in the bush, no other reflective surfaces around for miles. I’m with you on the droppings part. We removed our bird feeder because our deck and yard are so small, the droppings became pretty disgusting…not to mention the concentration of birds in one place is unhealthy for them.
This is the first year we have had a problem with our birds. They are usually so well-behaved! Now squirrels are a different matter.