I can tell you from personal experience that they can get nasty if you get near their nest. A pair set up a nest next to the local walking trail - chased quite a few walkers
Very cool!
Outside my study window there is a large hibiscus that the robins build a nest in every year. In the past I have set up my dslr on a tripod next to the window with an intervalometer to take an image every minute. This year I hope to set up a video camera that is triggered by motion.