Spring arrives early as robins nest in a wreath

Normally by mid-January the Christmas decorations have come down and birds are months away from making their nests.

But one pair of robins has already started a family after finding a home in a plastic festive wreath - attached to Julie Luckett's front door in Roehampton.

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Experts say the birds have been tricked into their normal springtime behaviour by the mild winter.

They also say that reports of birds singing in the night are because of the warmest January on record.

The Roehampton robins, which arrived on Boxing Day, have laid five eggs in their makeshift home. The eggs are expected to hatch next week, two months earlier than usual.

Miss Luckett, 49, said: "It's wonderful. We've struck up a relationship - I leave mealworm near the nest and have my post delivered next door so the postman doesn't disturb them.

"At first, the female, whom I've named Holly, was nervous of me but now she trusts me. She's even flown into my house a few times.

"I've seen her mate, Ollie, come to her too. With any luck I'll have five chicks singing away in my wreath soon."

Tim Webb of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said: "Robins often court in January but normal nesting has traditionally been March so this bird is way ahead of herself.

"The mild weather and availability of food created by the bumper seed, fruit and nut crops we had in autumn could be behind the early nesting.

"The position of the nest, against a door, will also provide some extra warmth."

Robins usually nest in a tree stump, bank or wall and their eggs incubate for about two weeks.

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