Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcasts Episode 2.52 - Urban Arias and Flocking Festivities
Dec 28, 2025
Hear a robin singing boldly in a supermarket car park, showcasing its adaptability amid urban noise. Delve into the bird's courting rituals and winter habits, including how the males sing to establish territory and attract mates. Discover the shy woodcock's elusive nature and unique foraging techniques. Reflect on winter flocks of various birds for safety in numbers, while also noting early breeders like mallards. This lively exploration of nature's resilience offers a beautifully seasonal perspective.
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Episode notes
Urban Robin Serenade
- Chris recorded a robin singing loudly in a Tesco Express car park amid traffic and floodlights at 5pm.
- He used the urban lights to explain how robins extend singing into darkness and adapt to human spaces.
Song Signals Territory And Mating
- Robins moult by September and begin singing to establish territories and inadvertently seek mates.
- Courtship feeding then helps females build subcutaneous fat crucial for early nesting and incubation.
High Robin Turnover Requires Support
- Robin mortality is extremely high despite multiple broods, so garden feeding matters in cold winters.
- Many threats include cats, collisions, and predators, leaving few adults surviving each year.