H.I. gave a sigh and asked whether or not I had come up with any ideas about this year's Christmas card. Like many others, I am finding it hard to get into the spirit of things, and I sighed too.
Then a light bulb went on in my head.
At my rural workshop there is a robin which begs for food and asserts his territorial rights over the land which I have always thought of as under my control, and he is so bold that all I have to do is put an object on the ground for him to perch on the handle or whatever is the highest point. You know the sort - fork handles, and all that.
I arrived in my car yesterday and as soon as I got out he flew up and hovered six inches away from my nose for a brief moment. "I've got a job for you", I told him. This time he was going to work for his crumbs.
I selected a picturesque log from a nearby pile and went down into my yard with the camera on my phone primed up and ready to go.
As I had predicted, the instant I put the log on the table he hopped on it and began to pose. I took 23 shots before I gave him any food. I ought to be able to do something with one of them.
UPDATE
You have to imagine the card version of this with glitter highlights. I quite like it because of the kitsch value, plus I know the model.
Nothing says Christmas like giving our friends the bird. (I jest! I jest! A great picture.
ReplyDeleteIt's a turkey.
DeleteWhat a lovely picture Tom and what a lovely card it will make. Robins and logs go together like peaches and cream at Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to keep it traditional...
DeleteYou would think butter would not melt in that little robin's mouth but they have the spirit of a lion. It will make a pretty card, if you have a snow photo you could superimpose them.
ReplyDeleteIt would kill me if it could.
DeleteI'd be impressed if you could get him to stand on your outstretched hand.
ReplyDeleteThat would be easily done in an hour or so.
DeleteMost small songbirds will do anything for treats. There's something about small animals (birds, dogs, men) that makes them 10X bolder than their size warrants!
ReplyDeleteGreat photo, Tom.
I agree about the men bit.
DeleteHe is a lovely robin.
ReplyDeleteI've seen worse.
DeleteGlad you shared the photo and story.
ReplyDeleteHello you.
DeleteThe photogenic robin earned his crumbs today. That's a good photo and will make a nice Christmas card.
ReplyDeleteYou will see the doctored photo.
DeleteGreat shot and great idea, Tom. Happy Christmas to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteAnd to you.
DeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteI know what he's really like.
DeleteWhat an adorable little performer.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't do it for nothing.
DeleteWhat a lovely little robin, a perfect Christmas symbol.
ReplyDeleteHe is one of two in disputed territory.
DeleteI have updated the image. I wanted to have a transparent snow overlay, but you have to pay for those. The cards are now printed and glittered up.
ReplyDeleteLovely picture! Excellent log, as well.
ReplyDeleteBlog log.
DeleteNice Update. The glitter will adorn the card even more. Your robin has lots of personality. He (or she?) is a beautiful plucky little creature. Is there a nest nearby?
ReplyDeleteIn the Spring there are several nests nearby, but robins have quite large territories so they often encroach on each other. They fight a lot amongst themselves, sometimes to the death.
Delete