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Sonora, CA (Feb. 11): From the end of December until the end of February, we have thousands of robins that roost in the trees, etc. on the next road over. They do a daily migration starting between 7 and 8 in the morning and returning to roost between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. The later the sunset, the later they return. They should be gone in the next few weeks. It is a wonder that I am fascinated by every day. As they return in the evenings, some will dive-bomb to eat toyon berries before heading home. What I especially like is when there is enough sun to shine on their red bellies as they fly overhead. It is BEAUTIFUL! Ann Arbor, MI (Feb 11): Yesterday we had a mild snow, the beautiful kind with big snowflakes that stick to eyelashes. I was running at the golf course, which has marsh land by a small lake . .Then, lone and lovely, a robin sang its good morning song. I couldn't spot it, but clearly heard it. Welcome, spring! Mathematically speaking, here come the outliers, the first bold and daring males, setting up territory before the others get here. Congratulations on the first bird back--and may he do well with his migrational gamble. We've had a mild winter so far, so maybe it'll all be fine, and he'll come out ahead for his early travels. The temperature was about 25 degrees. Sauk Centre, MN (Feb. 10) Since the first day of WINTER (yes, December 21st, 2005!) I have seen a robin. The first day I saw him, he was drinking water from a stream that very seldom freezes over (it hasn't frozen this winter at all). All the other days he has been sitting in one of several flowering crabapple trees that are nearby and are loaded with fruit. I had not seen him for over a week and was rather worried. A person who lives in the neighborhood said that a cat had been watching him. I was very happy to spot him again today, and will continue to look for him each time I go out. Thunder Bay, Ontario (Feb. 5): At least 15 American Robins feeding on crab apples, along with a couple dozen Cedar Waxwings. These Robins could very well have been here all winter. Shediac Cape, NB (Feb 5): Two flocks totalling 35 birds; appear to be feeding on Canada Holly berries. Up to 125 robins have been present in area since early January. Ithaca, NY (Feb 1): The class was so excited to hear that a Robin was sighted flying in front of the student teacher's (Miss Lindsay’s) car on the way to school. It flew quickly out of a bush, near Cayuga Heights Elementary School in Ithaca, NY. It had a striking red breast that made it stand out in the dull morning weather. It was a beautiful sight to see and our class can't wait to observe more! We are truly bird lovers and bird watchers! Raleigh, NC (Jan. 30): The robin sighting was on campus under our crabapple tree. The 3-4 robins were flying between that tree and a large magnolia nearby. Five other students reported seeing robins in their yards, mostly in groups of 3 or 4. The other students did not hear a song but reported that the robins were going from trees to the ground or approaching feeders. Havertown, PA (Jan. 29): Each year, usually between February 2 -4, hundreds of robins descend into a large holly tree in my backyard. They pick the tree clean of berries and then move on, not to be seen or heard from again for several weeks. This year the birds came slightly early. They arrived January 29th. A few loud noises sent them flying to large trees quite a distance from my home, only to return in large swooping groups. It was an unusually warm day so we were able to open the window only a few feet from the tree and listen to the flapping of their wings and their beautiful song. Many were able to hover long enough to pick the berry off of the end of a branch. And now there is nothing left. It took 20 minutes for the robins to pick the 30-foot tree clean. We felt such wonder and gratitude in being able to share in this awesome event. Southwest Oregon (Jan. 26): We are being visited by many thousands of robins in southwest Oregon. I have never seen so many robins in one area. They arrived about 4 days ago and have been hanging around feeding, and swarming in large flocks, sometimes as many as a thousand to a flock. Quite extraordinary. Is this normal behavior for the end of January
Greensboro, NC (Jan. 25): It was a cold day and we had just put out fresh waterfor the birds when a flock of cedar waxwings (unusual) came to drink where robins had just been. The robins returned and seemed to be trying to chase the waxwings away, but after a few minutes they just sat on one side of the birdbath watching the waxwings drinking on the other side. Cedar Crest, NM (Jan. 20): We saw 5 robins in all. It has been sunny here and we have had an unseasonably warm winter. The temperatures have been in the 40s and 50s. We are in the mountains just to the east of Albuquerque, New Mexico. We are in mostly scrub oak, pinon and cedar. Not too many tall pines at this altitude which is at about 7,000 feet. They were drinking from melting ice. Richland, IN (Jan. 12): Our first sighting the 5th we observed a couple of couple robins. On the 12th there were 50 or more plucking the ground for grubs and worms. It was an unbelievable sight! One of the students said a robin's nest with three eggs was in one of the pines of our Nature Center. I will check this observation out more thoroughly. Here in Southern IN we are experiencing an extremely MILD January! St. Cloud, MN (Jan. 7): While hiking along the Mississippi River to locate a campsite for the night, my son and I observed about 50 robins along the river. It is a site that is well warmed by the sun throughout the day. Water is plentiful. The ground is not frozen at this site. Heavy dense brush and a lot of downed trees are in the area. Snow is deep everywhere except the sunny spot mentioned. We are camping here for the night. The robins are not shy.
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