Signs of Spring

Counts of single robins increased significantly this week, and robin FIRST sightings were more than double the sightings of WAVE reports at last! It's a welcome sign of spring in a week when Mother Nature brought yet another blast of winter snow and cold to many areas.

How Fast? How Far?
"The robins are all gone now," reported Maria in West Palm Beach, Florida on March 14. In mid February to early March, robins to the south start moving north, as our maps indicate.

Some robins may occasionally cover 100 or 200 miles in a day. Most robinsjust make rapid flights by day, heading north, while looking carefully below for fruit trees or thawed ground where they may find worms. They take many breaks for food, even during the peak of migration.

“What we know about robin movements is based on watching large masses of them, not individuals," explains ornithologist Laura Erickson, adding that it would be splendid to track some individuals with satellite transmitters. "But there are so many robins, and they wander so much during autumn, winter and spring, that few researchers invest the time and technology to color band robins to keep track of individuals."

With all the things we still can learn about robins, we do know this for sure:

• "Heard Robin singing outside of my door. Spring is on its way!" Lorna in Calgary, AB, Canada (March 12, 2014)

As we transition from winter to spring, how closely connected are the arrival of robins and the emerging of earthworms?

• Welcome Spring! Earthworms and Robins Return