Donal Hickey: Ireland's everlasting love for the Robin

A survey found that red-breasted Robin is found in 99% of Irish gardens

In keeping with a tradition dating to early Victorian times, the robin continues to pop up on Christmas cards, but this is a bird we have year-round.

We continue to get reports of how more people have come to notice nature since the start of the epidemic. Birdwatch confirms that the highest number of people ever took part in its annual garden bird survey, up by 1,000 on the previous year. Volunteers are now being sought for a new survey.

Survey coordinator Brian Burke says birds gave people comfort and distraction during the lockdown which also resulted in a new-found appreciation of nature. The robin heads the list, seen in 99% of gardens, according to the survey.