American Robin
Robin Migration Update: May 1, 2012
Please Report
Your Sightings!		 Report Your Sightings
Robins have been seen or heard in ALL of our Northern Observation Posts! In other places, robins are incubating the first of two to four broods. This week we explore a baby robin's life in the nest. The white object in this photo is a key to keeping nests clean. What is it?

This Week's Update Includes:

Image of the Week
Robin nest with fecal sac
Photo: Sandra Bedford
What's Inside?
 
News: What's Happening Now & What to Watch For

What's Happening Now
Welcome home to robins everywhere! There's celebration this week at the farthest reaches of the robins' range, where ALL our Northern Observation Posts have now either seen or heard their first robin. As Stan White said when his robins came home to Voznesenka, Alaska (57 degrees N):

"Today, Sunday, April 29th, is a cold, windy day. Snow everywhere... And somewhere nearby the first robin of spring is singing! The snow has been steadily retreating, and now, with a little rain and at least one robin to send it on its way, it will soon be only a memory. A mad dash of green will be pushing up from the brown earth and the bare twigs. Definitely an exciting time! Happy spring!"

In North Pole, Alaska (64.75N), James and Lisa Moore celebrated their robin on April 27:

"We didn't see them yet, just heard their song in the evening on the 27th. So exciting! Our snow has mostly melted, though there are piles here and there."

What to Watch For

You've reported nesting underway in a few locations. Finding a nest is a treat for birdwatchers, but it's a time of great dangers and rigors for the birds themselves. You can help keeping a distance from nests—and by keeping kitty indoors.
Map of Northern Observation Posts
Welcome Home!
 
Baby robin in the nest
Photo: Dorothy Edgington

Lightweight!

 
Cat, a predator of birds
Photo: journey North
Predator
 
Explore: Facts About Newly Hatched Robins

ABCs of Baby Robins
Animal, brood, clutch—how many words related to baby robins can you collect? Brainstorm and list words on an ABC chart.

1-2-3's of Baby Robins
Read the article "Baby Robins in the Nest" and then view the photo gallery. Collect and organize numbers related to baby robins. How big? How long? How many? How much? What happens after babies hatch out of their eggs? Find out, and see what you can add to your chart:

 

What are come creative ways to show what you learned? Alphabet books, tongue-twister sentences, or a jeopardy game would be fun to share! See Teaching Suggestions.
 

Latest Maps: Where Are Robins Now?
The picture of migration 2012 is almost complete! These maps show where people have reported robins and earthworms. Patterns have emerged as citizen scientists report their observations. Singing robins reveal the temperature patterns of North America as we hear reports of robins singing at higher latitudes and at higher elevations.

Thank you, citizen scientists!
Robin Migration Map: First Robin Robin Migration Map: Waves of Robins Robin migration map: First robins heard singing Robin Range Map
First See
(map/list)		 Waves
(map/list)		 Singing
(map/list)		 Robin Range Map

Report Your Sightings! What, Where & How
First robin of spring Waves of robins Singin robin First earthworm of spring
The First Robin You
See

Robins migrating in Waves
The First Robin You
Hear Singing

Your first sighting of Earthworms
Annual 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.

 Image link to Year-End Evaluation
The FINAL Robin migration update will be posted on May 8, 2012.

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