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Migration
Update: February 1, 2011 |
Please
Report
Your Sightings! |
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Welcome
to Journey North's 18th season! Join citizen scientists across North
America as we track the robin's spring migration. Learn how to watch
for robins and how to listen for their first song. What do robins do
in the wintertime? What do they eat? Observations people reported in
January help tell the story!
This
Week's Report Includes:
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Image
of the Week |
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Report
Your Sightings! What,
Where & How |
We
are collecting the following observations. Will you help?
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The
First Waves
of Migrating Robins
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![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/graphics/robin/WK_022_200.jpg)
Wayne
Kruyduba
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Your
first sighting of Earthworms |
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![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/graphics/tnail/u-z/worm.gif) |
Where to Report ![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/imageshtml/SightingsScreenShot_75X35.gif)
Click the word "Sightings" on the navigation bar above.
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Latest
Maps: Where Are Robins Now? |
These
maps show where people observed robins in January: |
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Journal:
Learning from Citizen Scientist Observations |
January
was snowy and
cold! Each time a cold front moved across the continent,
people reported hundreds and thousands of robins on the move. Many
were surprised to see robins so early, and didn't realize some are
overwintering robins. How can they survive? Where were
the robins and what were they doing? Here's a sample:
- Indiana:
I was taking the dog out and every tree was loaded with robins. There
had to have been hundreds. They were even on the house. I looked
and I was surrounded by robins. I had never seen anything like
this before.
- Tennessee:
There are thousands of robins in huge flocks on the ground. I have
never seen so many in all my life.
- Illinois:
I noticed the robins yesterday. About 50 of them. They are in my back
yard. I have a tree with berries, or I had a tree with
berries. . .We have snow on the ground and we are to get another
ice/snow storm on Tuesday. It made my day when I saw all of these
beautiful Robins in my yard!!! I'm really, really, really ready
for spring, but I think they are confused!
All the
observations our citizen scientists made in January gave a good snapshot
of robin behavior in the
wintertime. See for yourself! What can you learn by reading the observations?
Try
this!
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Thirsty
robins shared a drink in Virginia.
(Enlarge)
Optional Journal
Page
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![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/graphics/n-r/Robin_winterJHolland01_200.jpg)
Hungry robins
covered the ground in Tennessee.
(Enlarge)
Optional Journal Page
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![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/graphics/tnail/monarch/handouts/ScreenShot_Journal_CollectingThoughts.jpg)
Journal Page and Teaching Suggestions |
Focus:
What Do Robins Eat in the Wintertime? |
Read
Discoveries Made by Citizen Scientists
Over 180 people reported large waves of robins during January.
Many
people saw what the robins were eating. Based on their actual observations,
you can find out what robins eat at this time of year. Go on a scavenger hunt
through some sighting reports and see if you can find the robin's favorite
foods and drinks. What will you be surprised to discover?
1. Collect
the facts in these observation reports from citizen
scientists.
2. Learn
More in This Week's Slideshow:
For robins, food is even more important than shelter in the wintertime. Find
out where robins find the food they need, and how cold temperatures affect
them:
What Do Robins Eat in the Wintertime?
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Slideshow: What Do Robins Eat in the Wintertime? |
Links:
Robin Resources to Explore |
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The
Next Robin Migration Update Will Be Posted on February 15, 2011.
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