Courtship Feeding

He doesn't bring her chocolates,
nor yet a grand bouquet,
but he kind-of wines and dines her,
as that's the robin's way
of showing her he loves her;
he'll feed her when she broods,
he'll fetch her worms and grubs and seeds,
yes, all her favourite foods.

And when the chicks are hatching,
their helpless beaks held wide,
he'll help her feed the babies, too;
he's telling her they're tied
as one: a pair, together
as long as each survives:
they're birds of a feather,
sharing busy, caring lives.

poem © Celia Warren 2015

Yes, the male of this pair of robins that I photographed together here - Double Delight - is now feeding the female. This suggests that the nest is built and the eggs will fill it within days. Thereafter, the adults will take turns to feed the young in a hectic 2-3 week schedule. This summer they will have two or three broods, so I guess picking the right partner is quite important.