28 April 2001

I've just found out something about the robin's nest in the garage. The female bird is not going and coming at all. It's the male bird that is doing all the coming and going, bringing food to the female. So theirs is very much a joint effort. The blackbird on the other hand seems to be left to her own devices while her partner shows off his singing abilities from the treetops.We go down to Lough Ennel sometimes to visit the swans. You can go right to the lake shore. If you stand there with a piece of bread in your hand you will be quickly surrounded by 30 or 40 swans all trying to take the bread from your hand. They have strong beaks but no teeth to talk of, so they don't hurt at all. They remind me of the Children of Lir If you go to read the Children of Lir story, just click the Close X Button at the top right of it's window to return to here. As I type I can hear a male Chaffinch chirping outside. It's the first time I've heard him this year. They seem to be independant sort of birds. They flit around in pairs among the branches of the trees, not mixing with the sparrows at all. They feed from the ground or from the hanging feeder. The male does all the singing and is more colourful than the female.