Listen for Song!

Big flocks are still moving through some southern states, such as Texas and Missouri. Observers reported about equal numbers of WAVE and FIRST reports in the last two weeks; many huge waves have broken up into smaller flocks, and smaller flocks are breaking up as individual birds start looking for territories. SINGING reports are still fewest, but on the rise. Robins are homeward bound!

Switching to Spring
The see-saw weather battle between winter and spring continues, but the switch is underway. As temps rise, snowmelt and rain soften the soil and earthworms emerge. More robins have been switching from their winter diet of berries to their spring diet of worms.

• "It's a rainy day. At least a hundred or more robins landed to feed in my yard." Annabelle T., Pipe Creek, Texas (March 9, 2014)

• Twelve robins along the road shoulder just east of the orchard. James H., Norwich, NY March 7, 2014)

• There are two, maybe three, robins singing. Also, I am not seeing the huge robin waves anymore." Wilda W.., Bonham, Texas, (March 8, 2014)

Keep an eye on the Northern Observation Posts (NOPs), the 16 yellow stars on our maps. Thanks to citizen scientists at these sites, we'll continue to have migration sightings as robins cross the map even in regions where fewer people live. Have any NOPs seen or heard their first robin?

• Northern Observation Posts: 2014