Really? Just Unbelievable! Another Dodgy Vote.

[joggerjayne]

Britain's national bird ... the Robin?

No Gulls in the Top 10?

I think a recount is needed. National bird? How often do you ever see a Robin?

And I'm sorry, the "Mute Swan" (is that a real bird) comes in ahead of the seagull?

Who organised this vote? FIFA??

http://www.votenationalbird.com/

[mikey4444]

I have just found this on the BBC News website and I thought perhaps people would be interested. It seems that Robins may have been unfairly maligned ::::

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33097388

[askyourgran]

I voted for the owl. The robin always seems to be favourite. I must confess to hate the seagulls. We were on Brighton pier a couple of months ago, MrAsk and I had ice creams leaning on the rail looking out to sea and a huge gull swooped down and swiped his ice cream, must have been it's dessert.

[Milvus]

Mikey4444 the article doesn't address the difference that separates the robin. Many birds are fiercely protective during breeding. Buzzards, gulls and terns will attack anything of any size but not to the death. Robins however fight to the death. Some 10-15% of robin deaths are from robin on robin combat. This doesn't happen with other species in the UK. Red breasted pitbull.

[vulcan42]

This is why the gull wasn't chosen, they're sneaky!!

[vulcan42]

Sorry, the link disappeared.

[jno]

"Britain has spoken – and chosen a vicious murdering bully as its national bird"

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/11/british-national-bird-robin-murderous-bully

[DaisyNonna]

I live 1/4 mile from the sea front as the crow flies. Yes, do have one here.
First floor flat, do not overlook my own garden, at an angle to any windows, can just see a sliver.
Have a bird feeder attached to living room window. Seagulls and pigeons are a menace, trying to land on the feeder and knocking the top (roof shaped) into downstairs flat's garden.
Gull would never get my vote.

[jno]

cute in a Harold Shipman kind of way, divebuddy, though with feathers instead of a beard.

[Milvus]

Given the opportunity my vote would have gone to either/both sparrows. Great community bird.

[Old_Geezer]

Redbreast seems a reasonable choice (not that I know why we would need a "national bird"). Little guy who won't take any crp from anyone and 'punches' above their weight.

[RATTER15]

I think that list is fairly good actually, I'm not surprised that the gull didn't get a look in, most people don't like them.

[jno]

there's nothing vey national about seagulls, that's probably why, Ratter. Many of them are illegal immigrants, they come over here and steal our fish and chips and then they *** on decent hardworking Brits. Robins mostly stay put, at least the males, though some of the Wags go off to spend winter in the south of Spain.

[Svejk]

Firth of Forth - Detecting German U-boats
Inchmickery Island's profile could be confused with a battleshipDuring the world wars the small islands guarding the inner Firth of Forth were invaluable in the battle to deter German U-Boats. From one angle Inchmickery Island's profile could be confused for a battle ship.

The Government asked for suggestions from the public on how to detect the U-boats.

A model of a submarine being stuffed with sardinesInventor Thomas Mills came up with the idea that if you use a model U-boat to feed gulls and tow the model around the coast, gulls would come to associate the sight of a periscope with a chance of food, flock around approaching U-boats and give away their positions.

With the help of historian Diana Maxwell and model maker John Riddell, Neil Oliver recreates Thomas Mill's experiment.

[joggerjayne]

Au contraire.

Seagulls (never mind the correct species names ... they are "seagulls" to me) ... seagulls are hard working little chaps. They clean up all the scraps that people drop around the place. And they look pretty on one or two of my polo shirts. And they have jolly orange and yellow beaks.

[Ken4155]

Let's face it, jj, Canaries, Owls and Bluebirds all finished above Seagulls:-)

[1ozzy]

It's a dogs delight
To bark and bite
And a little girls to sing
But all those pesky seagulls do
Is *** on everything.

No wonder they didn't win!!

[joggerjayne]

Canaries?

Canaries can't possibly count as British birds. They have to be African, or South American, or something.

[Khandro]

The robin is an extremely belligerent and territorial bird, you never see them in groups or even pairs and they shun all other birds. Quite apt when you come to think of it !