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American Robin Migration Update:
February 28, 2006
Today's Report Includes:
American
Robin Migration Maps and Data
First Robins
Seen |
Waves
of Robins |
First Robins Heard Singing* |
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(map) |
(map) (data)
*Recommended for mapping |
Robins are on the move! How are week’s
maps different from last time? Some experts believe that robins migrate
at a speed of about 30 miles per hour. They can migrate during day
or
night. Robins may average 38 miles per day; some days they don't
migrate at all, while other days they can go many times that distance.
Why? What clues can you find in this report and on the climate
map that shows departure from normal temperatures?
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Mike
Hall in Cambridge, NY took this photo of a few of the robins
in his yard on Feb. 20.
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Robin Sightings Everywhere!
Sitting at her computer, Journey North’s Cindy Schmid heard a familiar
but surprising sound on this cold Minnesota morning: “It
took about 3 seconds to comprehend that I have a robin singing
right outside
my
office! This is SO early!”
What about YOUR robins? From Florida to Canada, many observers
eagerly shared news of robins arriving in huge numbers. In Astoria,
Oregon,
Lee reports that there is hardly a grass patch or field without
robins all
over it. Farther north in Creston, British Columbia, an observer
says it’s another early spring and “the robin gang is back. This
year they arrived on February 18th in full force as a flock of around
500 was seen.” What clues in these observations help you know if
people are seeing winter robins or spring migrants? Here’s
more:
• Fifth-graders at Emerson School in Ann Arbor, MI reported: “Today
on 2/23, just after school started, we went outside to check on the
lone robin who has been hanging out around our berry bush. Yes--he
was there,
singing the Whinny call, and the Typical Song. Then, as we were watching
him, along came 16 robins, our first big wave. They landed on trees,
and flitted around. A few sang, then all 16 left, leaving behind
our "regular." He
continued his Whinny Call. The really cold weather of the half
a week or so is gone, and today it's 43 degrees. It feels like spring
is coming--and
sounds like it, too!”
• “A flock of 20-30 fat robins flew into my yard. I heard them before
I saw them. They were most interested in the berries of my cedar
trees.” (Boones
Mill, VA)
• “I was in the parking lot at the Hamburg Shopping Center. The trees
there were full of robins. There were HUNDREDS of them! I didn't pay
attention at the time, but thinking back, I believe that they were all males.” (Lexington,
KY)
• “A.M. sighting of between 1,000 to 3,000 robins, apparently in
migration. Landed in area for approximately 2 hours, fed, and moved on.“ (Rontonda,
FL)
• “There were literally HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of Robins. I have never
seen anything like it in my life!! My 3-story-high holly tree
was stripped of berries within minutes.” (Rockville, MD)
• “Today when I was walking with my mom, we saw about 25 robins at
5:21 pm. This was the most robins we ever saw! They were flying from one spot
to the next.” (Hannah
(grade 4), in Perrysburg, OH)
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NEW!
Just-for-Kids Booklet: “Will
a Robin Choose Your Neighborhood?”
Somewhere out there, a robin might be heading right for your backyard,
thinking he owns it. What do robins look for when they return in spring?
Why do females
return later than males? What important thing do the robins do right after
they come back?
The
second in Journey North’s new print-and-fold booklet
series on robins looks at these questions and more. Find it here, along
with a helpful teacher guide and print and fold instructions.
COMING
UP: Watch for two more new booklets in
upcoming reports!
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Name That Tune! Challenge Question #2
A few observers are certain their robin is singing, while others commented
on different robin sounds they hear. You heard five robin vocalizations
in our last report when you visited the Robin Dictionary to learn
what robins are saying:
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Have
you printed your very own journals for your CQs and notes? Find
the link here.
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Robin Dictionary:
Six Vocalizations and What They Mean
Here they are again, but now we’ve scrambled the order to stump
you! Write down the numbers, then listen to the recordings. Write the
name of each call and what it means to a robin. Then answer this week’s
all-important challenge question correctly to be certain when
YOUR robin is back in his neighborhood!
Challenge
Question #2:
"Which numbered vocalization will you hear when your robins are back on
their breeding territory?"
To respond
to this question, please follow these instructions.
Discussion of Challenge Question #1
Last time we asked, "What variables do you think affect the
number of robins you might see in the winter time?"
Corey and Lily both listed four variables. In Cory’s words: “I
think the variables that affect the number of robins in winter time
are: food supply (berries, worms, bird feeders, etc.), water supply,
and good shelter. I think severe weather may also affect robins.”
Yes! Today’s observations of robin sightings from two to thousands
help confirm their good thinking. Thank you, Corey and Lily!
Next Time
Journey North has a whole network of observers awaiting their robins
at the end of the trail. How far north do the robins go? When will
our “Northern Observation Posts” (NOPs) see their first
robins and hear them sing? Next time we’ll start making predictions.
We’ll see how to test the truth of a scientific theory about
robin migration and the average temperatures. We’ll also introduce
you to the official student hosts of our 2006 Early Bird Contest so
you can send in your entries. In the meantime, remember that we need
your help to track the robin migration. We hope you’ll Watch,
listen, and report!
The Next Robin Migration Update Will
Be Posted on March 7*, 2006 (data only*).
Copyright
1997- 2006 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback
form.
 
 
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