Sex controversy at Opera Holland Park

The peacocks have competition. A  robin has built its nest backstage at Opera Holland Park reports the Evening Standard.

“He’s known as Giacomo, after Puccini,” Mike Volpe, general manager of OHP, told the Standard.  “He’s moved his nest closer to the stage so we think  he likes the opera.”

Hang on -"he"?

According to the RSPB, who should know about these things, the robins' nest is built by the female alone, and she alone incubates the eggs.So unless Mr Volpe has got close enough to examine his new tenant's credentials, it seems a more feminine name might be in order.

The RSPB also point out that robins "will easily desert the nest if they think that the nest has been discovered."

So let's hope they're not reading this.

Comments

[Vecchio John]

if the robins return "un bel di" Pinkerton will return to Madama Butterfly; great forward planning by Mike Volpe.

[essar]

Maybe this explains what put Mr Ticciati to flight?

[manou]

...and Robin shall restore amends

[SJT]

And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream.

[Michael Volpe]

Yes, quite right about the gender. But I didn't write the story! ;-) And I didn't name her either!