The Robin and the Chipmunk
In my front bird feeder, I just put sunflower seeds. I used to put the mixed seeds but that feeder is directly over flower beds and the spilled seeds would grow up into what I would call weeds. So now, I just put sunflower seeds there and if they get spilled, the plant that grows is a sunflower and not a weed.
Because it's all sunflower seeds in that feeder, it's a special attraction to the chipmunks, who love to stuff their faces and carry off the treasure to their storage room.
The other day I looked out and saw a chipmunk in the birdfeeder, and to my surprise, a robin flew down and chased it away! At first the chipmunk tried to fend off the robin but the robin was very aggressive and kept divebombing it and the chipmunk quickly gave up and left.
What was that about? Robins don't eat sunflower seeds. Why did the robin not want the chipmunk to get the sunflower seeds? Or was it something more? Do chipmunks bother robins' nests? Maybe it was just an "I don't like chipmunks" kind of deal. I wonder.
Submitted by
Brenda
at 4/28/2006 3:05:42 PM- ...I forgot to sign my bird diving story -- Brenda
Submitted by
Leslie
at 4/29/2006 9:57:47 AM- This is the second dive-bombing robin story I've read this morning and after having seen the two males clash repeatedly in midair in my back yard, I'm thinking they're definitely protective and very territorial. Hopefully the chipmunk managed to stuff enough her little cheeks to tide her over. :)
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When I was little (probably 4 years old), my cousin and I were playing in the yard at my Grandparents farm. A bird (I don't recall what kind) started dive bombing us. It terrified us and we ran shrieking towarded the house. My Grandmother heard our terrified shrieks and was running out to meet us (I imagine her heart was pounding as hard as ours were). When we told her what happened, she just sat down right on the ground, pulled us into her lap and laughed. She told us mother birds get very protective in the Spring and we must have gotten too close to where ever she was nesting, we just needed to find another spot to play and the mother bird would leave us alone. I believe the spot we chose was Grandma's kitchen table.