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| American robins released in Surrey bred successfully |
A HOT debate among birdwatchers in 1909 was whether the American robin should be introduced into England. Some were, indeed, released that year in Surrey. However, the initiative was not supported by the British Ornithologists' Union. In this edition of its journal, The Ibis, its distinguished founder-editor, Philip Sclater, explains why.
We believe that we are in agreement with the wishes of the large majority of ornithologists when we express a hope that the attempts to introduce the American robin into this country will not succeed.
We agree with the editor of Nature (August 25, 1909) that the experiment is “of a very interesting character” and that the bird in question is "cheery", its song ("kill ’em, cure ’em, give ’em physic") being agreeable, except, perhaps, to the vendors of medicines!
But our English gardens are, fortunately, the habitation of several melodious species of thrush, and we should be much grieved if our song thrushes and blackbirds were displaced by intruders from other parts of the world.
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| Philip Sclater - lawyer and long-serving editor |
We know well what has happened in many parts of the globe where similar interesting experiments have succeeded, and where English sparrows and Indian mynahs have exterminated the native birds.
Some 17 American robins turned out this spring near Guildford Surrey, mated immediately and commenced nest-building almost at once.
They are now said to number between 40 and 50.
These birds may have retained their "migratory instinct", and, on the approach of winter, will leave England and become “hopelessly dispersed.”
This, in our opinion, would be the best thing that could happen.
We prefer our native species to their American cousin for all its noted "cheeriness".
* Photo of American robin: Kristof vt via wikimedia commons
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