DEAR Editor,-
The Cape Robin-chat trying to enjoy his winter vacation by the seaside is an inoffensive little fellow who keeps to himself deep in the shrubbery and hardly dares to sing his sweet three-note song. Or venture out to take a little sun.
The problem is the garden is home to two boisterous locals – bigger, brighter, louder and much more aggressive. The Red-capped Robin-chats.
There’s Frontal Rob, building himself up on peanut-butter power, who has a demure girlfriend. And there’s Backward Rob, who lives alone in the back and would very much like a girlfriend. Specially Frontal Rob’s.
The two Robs hate each other and spend much of their time at dawn and dusk shouting and swearing at one another across the border. The border is invisible to humans and the threats hurled across it sound to us like beautiful song. But no matter to the Robs – their territorial song-war continues.
The war’s likely to get violent, probably in the spring when the testosterone starts pumping. In the meantime, both Robs keep themselves in top shape by beating up the holiday-maker.
The poor Cape fellow spends most of his time in the no-man’s land between occupied territories – the narrow corridors beside the house. Whenever he ventures out for a bite, a drink or a swim – either in front or out back – he knows he’s liable for a thumping.
Is it any wonder he vanishes back inland at the first sign of spring?
PETER VOS
