When the Robins begin to show up in groups on lawns I always try to find
some time to watch them. Robins are like teenagers, by themselves they don't
always do too much but in groups they do fascinating things. Yesterday a
group of 18 robins were loosely spread across a park lawn, feeding and doing
various postures like bill pointing and wing dropping but no real conflicts.
It was quiet too, no calling. Then a Juv. plumage Glacaus-winged gull flew
in and landed. To my surprise one of the robins took serious exception to
the presence of this much larger bird and began making all kinds of
chirping. Several other birds began calling as well, not the repeated two
note predator alarm call but a series of chirps. One robin ran up close to
the front of the gull, flared out its wings once or twice and scolding the
whole time. This was enough apparently for the gull who flew off. I guess
this bit of lawn was a "Robins Only" club that day.


Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer
The Environmental Science School
http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm
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