Last Spring we took a trip to our local garden centre. A large sprawling place that sells everything you could possibly want for your garden and more, at prices that could make your eyes water if you thought about it too hard. They do however have the odd bargain, and that’s why we continue to go.

We were browsing through the aisles in the indoor section, a vast warehouse type building with high ceilings and glass panels in the roof, when we were struck by the sound of bird song quite close by. We were near the wild bird food section and sure enough that’s where the singing was coming from.

Bird feeding in the UK has reached epidemic proportions, what you can’t buy for the birds in your garden these days isn’t worth bothering with. (How did they manage without us?) Needless to say the bird section here is huge and expensive. However I digress.

The bird song came from a small robin sat high in the roof on the top of a large banner which had his picture on it. We stood for a while listening to this lovely sound and commenting on how modern day automata were so realistic even when used for something as mundane as promoting bird food. His head moved and everything.

It wasn’t until we walked around the back of the banner and saw the bird droppings that we realised this was in fact a real robin, sat on a banner of himself singing his heart out. Judging by the ‘pile’ behind the banner this must have been one of his favourite places. He didn’t seem stressed or distressed, so we assumed this was part of his normal routine.

We’ve been back several times since and he’s always there or thereabouts. Judging by other peoples reactions, we’re not his only fans.

How cool is that, a robin living in the wild bird food section of a garden centre, helping to promote bird food sales for his outdoor cousins by sitting on a banner of himself and singing at the top of his voice. Priceless. Well it made us smile.