WE are proud to announce the arrival of a brand new LIVE wildlife channel, and our first from Ireland, the Robin Nest. Brought to us by Tony Gaynor this exciting little European Robin nest all the way from South Kilkenny in Ireland.
They are sitting on eggs, which should hatch any moment now. With a bit of luck WE will get to watch more than one successful brood. Enjoy.
Irish Robin
Spideog (Irish name)
Erithacus rubecula (Latin name) 
Known by a number of different names including; robin redbreast, ruddock, redbreast, Bob robin, Cock robin, robinet and reddock, to name but a few, the robin is probably the most familiar and easily recognised of all our birds. Ruddock is an Old English word, meaning “red”. It is believed that there are about 4 million robins in Ireland and the robin is the only Irish bird that sings continually throughout the winter.
When you hear the famous line of the song, “The red, red robin goes bob, bob, bobbing along”, you will be surprised to learn that this does NOT refer to our Irish robin, but to the American Robin, which is NOT a robin at all, but a thrush. It seems that when settlers arrived in America, they decided to call the red-breasted thrush a robin, after their favourite bird back home!
Despite the impression given of the robin, they are in fact extremely aggressive and territorial. Looking at a group of robins perching happily together on a holly branch on a Christmas card, nothing could be further from the truth. They would tear each other to pieces! However, once they have set up their territory, Robins are one of our friendliest birds and can be encouraged to come close to humans. During the cold winter leave out some food and watch for him (or her) to arrive in the garden. Gradually it will gain your trust and come closer. If you are very lucky, you may be able to entice it to take food from your hand.
This Robin’s nest is in a small evergreen tree just outside my sunroom. Located in South Kilkenny, just outside Mooncoin, Ireland.There are 5 other types of birds nesting in the garden and house gables, Sparrow, Thrush, Blackbird (I Think) and some member of the Tit family, (great or blue).
Written by Tony Gaynor
