The discovery of a French robin in Co Cork has left bird enthusiasts in Ireland astonished. Normally, robins, a frequent sight in Irish gardens, don’t travel far from where they were born. However, a deceased robin featuring the word ‘Paris’ on its leg ring was recently discovered in west Cork by a local woman.
Birdwatch Ireland conducted further research and found out that the bird was ringed in Calais, France, a fortnight prior to the discovery, which is over 800km away from west Cork. Although there have been a few instances of robins from northern Scotland migrating to Ireland for the winter, this is the first known instance of a robin journeying between France and Ireland, as per Birdwatch Ireland.
A representative from the organisation suggested that the bird might have travelled even further than initially believed. They emphasise that this is an extraordinary discovery, given that Irish robins are usually sedentary and the winter population typically consists of birds bred in Ireland. They speculated that given where and when the bird was found, it might have been halfway through its journey when it was ringed in France, potentially originating from further north or east in Scandinavia or northern Europe.
Moreover, Birdwatch Ireland has urged the public to inspect any bird they come across, whether alive or dead, for rings. These could supply them with crucial information.