American Robin
Migration Update: March 11, 2008
Please Report
Your Sightings! >>

Today's Report Includes:

 

Photo: Will Lowry
 Would these robins be singing their song? How do you know by just seeing the photo?
The Migration: Maps and Highlights

First Seen
(map/sightings)

First Wave
(map/sightings)

First Song Heard
(map/sightings)
Explore! What are these robins doing? >>

Highlights:
Robins have been busy this week. Here's a sampling of what you saw:

  • "I saw 3 male robins looking for food in the grass, and a robin catching worms where water formed puddle while being pumped out of a cellar." March 9, Lykens, PA
  • "A Robin appeared in our snow-covered blue spruce on March 8 around 4:00 pm. He appeared healthy but very cold. He was perched on the tree limb with his feathers puffed out to help keep him warm. From time to time he would eat snow, as his source of water." Harrow, Ontario
  • "I thought they were back in town because my my bird bath was muddy, a sign of Robins bathing and getting mud together for nests." March 5, Plainfield, IL
  • "We had at the very least 30 young Robins on our front lawn on March 6. We live in Oshawa, Ontario, and have never seen anything like this before. We have had them return many times since Mar. 6, but the weather has been so cold I worry for them." Oshawa, Ontario
  • "I heard the robin's song just this morning, March 10th. It is sunny, and the temperature was still -10 degrees C." Hemmingford , PQ

Why are a few robins singing when it's still very cold? What are robins eating? What's good and bad about being an early bird? Today's links and lessons have some answers — and some new questions too!



Photo Andy Wilson
In Spokane, WA, Christine has heard the robin song. She has seen territorial behavior and robins chasing each other. Why do you think the robins were doing that now?

Journal Question: How Do Robins Learn to Sing? Interview: Dr. David Aborn >>

"The robins are already singing. They have been all over my yard and I listen to their lovely songs. I assume I am hearing the juveniles attempting to learn the songs and the adults actually doing the 'good' singing," came this Feb. 27 report from Florida. We wondered:

  • How do baby birds learn to sing the song of their species?

Write your thoughts in your Robin Migration Journal. Then compare with Dr. David Aborn's comments. Edit your journal page as necessary.


Photo: Tom Grey
Your Turn: Why is the Robin Fat?  Photo Study: Why might a robin look fat? >>

"One of our students pointed out a robin to her Mom (a teacher here). Mom said it was pretty chunky and our student assumed it was pregnant." This observer was from Michigan, where it was cold. The sighting was March 9.

Do you think the student was right? Use clues from the paragraph above and facts from links in this report to explain why you think the robin was "chunky."


Photo Anne Cook

Links: More Robin Resources to Explore
  • Background: About This Migration Study >>
  • Listen and Discern: Robin Vocalization Dictionary >>
  • Contribute: Report Your Robin Sightings >>
  • Observe (Checklist): Spring Phenology of Robins >>
  • Prepare (Lesson): When Will Our Robin Habitat be Ready? >>
  • Predict (Lesson): Testing a Temperature Theory About Robin Migration >>
  • Read Nonfiction: A Robin's Menu Through the Seasons>>
  • Ask the Expert: Send Your Robin Questions Now! >>

What does a robin need from its habitat? Is your robin's habitat ready?
More Robin Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next American Robin Migration Update Will Be Posted on *March 18, 2008 (*data only).

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