American Robin
  
Robin Migration Update: March 19, 2013
Please Report
Your Sightings!

Spring "arrives" tomorrow, and the robins seem to know! The past week brought the most robin sighting reports of the season. Can you tell the males from the females? This week's slideshow celebrates what robins do in spring.

This Week's Report Includes:

 Image of the Week
Male and female robin in tree

Sounds Like Spring!
Image: Charlene Ryan
Migration News: Hearing Robin Songs

What's Happening Now

Thanks to citizen scientists, the map shows 86 new "first" reports (average latitude 41.8) and 22 new "song" reports (average latitude 41.46). "Wave" reports numbered 29 (average latitude was 41.0). Robins are announcing spring's arrival in reports like these:

  • Nova Scotia: "A robin sang two full songs just after dawn at edge of farm field in Pleasant River."
  • Montana: "Our teacher heard a robin singing this morning at 7:30 when she was biking to schoo!" wrote Christy at Lewis and Clark Elementary School.
  • Ontario: "It was definitely the True Song. We are still in snow up here, but due to the rain the last few days, there are lots of puddles. If I were a robin, I would have waited til I could see folks' lawns."
  • South Dakota: "After the rain stopped, I heard one lone robin singing 'Cheerio! Cheerio! Cheerio!' It was wonderful to hear after winter!"

What to Watch For:

Notice how male robins act when near each other as they arrive. Also watch for females, who arrive on territory a few days to a week behind the males.

  • Pennsylvania: "Suddenly robins are everywhere. I think they are males because they seem to be chasing and challenging each other."
  • Alabama: "First female robin observed by second grade students at F. E. Burleson Elementary school in Hartselle, Alabama."
American Robin in tree
Image: Linda Schmidt
Waves Still Coming
 
Male cardinal
Image: Randy Indish
Sounds Like Robin?
 
Male robin with beak open
Image: Laura Erickson
Open for Business
 
Male and female robin on sumac in early spring
Image: Elizabeth Howard


Slideshow: Hello, Robins! Hello, Spring!

When robins are in our backyards, citizen scientists observe and wonder: How long will the robins stay? What food will the robins find? Where will the robins build a nest? This week's Read-with-Me booklet is the perfect way to welcome spring and explore the essential question in your journal: What are robins doing in our backyards?

 

 

 
Cover of Booklet
Latest Maps: Where Are Robins Now?

These maps show where people reported earthworms and robins. Patterns emerge as citizen scientists report their observations. What do you notice this week as you compare where robins are singing with first robin sightings?

Robin Migration Map: First Robin Robin Migration Map: Waves of Robins Robin migration map: First robins heard singing Earthworm migration map
First See
(map/list)		 Waves
(map/list)		 Singing
(map/list)		 Earthworms
(map/list)
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
The next robin migration update will be posted March 26, 2013.

 

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