Valentines in the wild
Valentines means it’s fruity bird season!
I love this time of year because the light is starting to change, the days are getting longer and the birds are singing as their thoughts turn to choosing mates and building nests.
Valentines Day in the wild isn't chocolates and roses though.
It's jolly hard work!
Female Robins demand to be fed by their suitor, female hares box their suitors to check their strength, Great Crested Grebes go dancing and the poor little male Wren builds up to a dozen different nests in the hope that the female will be impressed enough with one that they move in.
But it’s not all in the favour of the female of the species as illustrated by the the lady toad who schleps her way to the spawning ground with a male gripping on for dear life on her back.
Flowers from the supermarket just don’t cut it in the natural world.
In fact, Valentines Day and its connection with fertility and courtship came about because in medieval times they believed that the middle of February - the 14th, marked the actual start of the mating season for birds.
Couple Goals
Gannets. I’ve spent many an hour watching Gannet pairs bonding on the cliffs at Bempton. For such large ungainly birds with piercing sharp beaks they’re so tender and loving towards each other.
Swans are another favourite – their mirrored head bobbing is so wonderful to watch.
And do you know who else? Pigeons. Yes, Pigeons. Just like the Gannets they are incredibly tender with each other.
