American Robin
Migration Update: April 28, 2009 
Please Report
Your Sightings! >>

Today's Report Includes:


Photo Laura Erickson
How is a robin's beak good for hunting worms? Find out! >>
The Migration: Maps and Highlights

First Seen
(map/sightings)

First Wave
(map/sightings)

First Song Heard
(map/sightings)

Highlights: Home Sweet Home?
Nearly every report of a new sighting or song in the past week was from Canada or Alaska, with big waves of robins as well as first singing robins appearing:

Yorktown, SK: Approximately 40 male robins visiting our cherry tree. We have never had this many at once! Our whole city has noticed them over the last week.

Gowganda ON: Hundreds of robins were seen yesterday for miles. . .

Pelican, AK: a huge flock of robins (50-100 of them) came flying in and landed on the flats. It was a spectacular sight, a real blessing.

South Portland, ME: Tons of robins here. They are singing up a storm. Eating up worms like crazy.

Now look at the maps. Do the maps suggest to you that many robins have reached the end of their road? We think so! In the sighting category of "Other," every report was from the "lower 48" as nesting robins thrilled observers. Today's lessons and activities focus on that fun. You'll see what we mean. But first. . .read on for news from the NOP at Shageluk, Alaska:


NOP Joanne Bovey in Edmonton, AB, sent this photo, saying: "I heard 'my' robin singing on April 21..... he was sitting at the top of the same spruce tree that I first saw him in earlier. I got a quick photo of him actually singing."

Which four NOPs are still awaiting their first robins? Find out here: >>

See NOP comments and make your predictions: >>
Early Bird Contest: Winners! Shageluk's "First Robin" Report >>

HIGH FIVEs to all of you who entered this year's Early Bird Contest by sending your predictions — and CONGRATULATIONS to the winners: June Cook's students at Uxbridge Secondary School in Durham, Ontario. They won the contest and Journey North 5-shirts with the closest prediction— April 24 — for the first robin reported in Shageluk, Alaska. Thanks to Joy Hamilton's class at Innoko River School for officiating the contest for the first robin to this Northern Observation Post. See "first robin" data collected by Shageluk students over the years: >>

Slide Show: Baby Robins: Welcome to the World!

When homeschoolers in Cherry Hill, NJ saw a robin fly away from the nest on the brick fireplace behind their house on April 26, they checked and found two eggs. What's next?

For a mother robin to carry more than one egg in her small body would be like an airplane trying to fly with too much weight on board. How many eggs will she lay? Each tiny baby weighs less than a quarter when it hatches, but it already knows three things. What are they? Why is it good that baby robins are the size of their parents in just two weeks? Find out! >>



Slide Show - Booklet - Teachers
Lesson: Discover Who Does What  Lesson: Chore Chart Checklist >>
Robins will soon be doing the serious work of raising another generation. Male and female robins instinctively know exactly what their duties are when it comes to raising young. What do females do? What do males do? Are there jobs they BOTH do? We'll help you find out with links in today's lesson. Then record their duties on the chore chart we provide: >>

Photo Wayne Kryduba
Who carries the mud?
Journal: Which Would You Rather Be?  

After you view the slide show and explore the links in the Chore Chart lesson above, decide this:

  • Would you rather be a mother robin or a father robin? Why?

Write your reasons in your Robin Migration Journal: >>



Photo Wayne Kryduba
Year-end Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts! >>

Will you take a few minutes to complete our Year-end Evaluation?

With your help, we can we document Journey North's reach, impact and value. We need comments like yours to keep the program going and growing.

Thank you! >>

Year-end Evaluation
Links: This Week's Robin Resources to Explore
  • Photo Study: A Robin's Beak >>
  • Predict: When Will Robins Reach the End of the Trail? >>
  • NOP Citizen Science Reports: >>
  • Journal Page: Collect Your Thoughts on the Citizen Science Reports >>
  • Observe (Checklist): Spring Phenology of Robins >>
  • Read and Think: Baby Robins: Welcome to the World! Booklet/Slide Show for Kids >>
  • Read Nonfiction: Eggstra! Eggstra! The Story of Robin Eggs >>
  • Lesson/Fill-out Chart: Chore Chart for Raising Robins >>
More Robin Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The FINAL American Robin Migration Update Will Be Posted on May 5, 2009.

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