Journey North American Robin Spring 2004

News from the NOPs (Northern Observation Posts)

for the April 27, 2004 Robin Report.

Here's the news from NOPs for the week? Who is still waiting for the first sight or first song of their robin?

Terri Mitchell, Anchorage, AK
(April 22) We are definitely going through spring thaws now! Most of our snow is gone, the roads are clear and the weather is chilly but pleasant. It's nice not to wear the big coats for a change. The snow geese are moving through on their way to the north. My co-worker was just in Kasigluk 2 days ago and says the ground is frozen and all the melted water is sitting on top waiting for thaw. No robins or loons yet, but the water is opening on the lagoon in town and there are ducks and geese. I imagine the loons aren't far behind. I'll keep you posted the minute I know. Usually they hit the Mat-Su valley first and they let us know they are coming. The seagulls are out in force.

Mike Sterling, Anchorage, AK
04/22/04: Robins seen in Anchorage on April 12. The first was pretty isolated, though now the tops of every big spruce around have territorial males proclaiming their sovereignty over all they see. The geese and ducks are here, too. We even saw a flock of snow geese in the schoolyard last week. Woo! Lots of snow still on the ground, though low temperatures are not dropping much below freezing. The first song I heard was on April 12 as I rode my bicycle in to school. The kids in class have noticed robins in their yards every day since them. Now there are robins all over the place.

Bruce Bennett, Whitehorse, YT
(April 19, 2004) Better late than never (well maybe not) I heard my first American Robin singing on April 10th though the first was reported in Tagish in southern Yukon on April 7th. I found the first flower blooming on Sunday. The prairie crocus (Pulsatilla patens), spring is slowly creeping up on us. Yes we still have lots of snow, although it is beginning to melt in the valley. In my yard it has mainly cleared from areas under the trees but all the open areas are still covered. It is still going below freezing every night. It was -8C this morning but we have 18 hours of daylight now. We still have lots of Common Redpolls around and the Slate Coloured Juncos are also common at my feeders.

Sue Toymil, Shaktoolik, Alaska
(April 22/04) Tuesday, April 13 the seagulls proudly paraded around our beach on Norton Sound-Bering Sea for the first time this spring. All Eskimos are waiting for the geese to show next. The temp has been in the 40's and 50's melting our 5 foot high snow drifts quickly. Little time to play in mud puddles before they dry up! The beluga whales (small white whales) are in and hunting is going well. Three killed so far for our village feast. Yum! No sign of robins yet!

Dominique Cloutier, PQ, Canada
(April 25) Our robin's still around, but what I thought was a "girlfriend" was another robin trying to steal the territory ;-) Our robin has chased him away ! He still perches at the very same spot as last year and walks his grounds daily, looking for worms. The earth is still frozen just below the surface. It's hard to rake, so I think he might not find all the goodies he'd want! A funny story to share: last week I saw my robin. busy on the lawn in front of the house and as I'm watching him from inside, I spot the neighbour's cat, pretending she hasn't seen the bird, but intently keeping an eye. I kept on watching, ready to step outside and scare the cat away, when all of a sudden, the robin lifts off and flies right above the cat's head, about a couple of inches above the cat's head. I have never seen a cat run away that fast. It would have been a priceless movie! Earlier this morning, I heard some wild geese fly on top of the house, meaning that spring is near.

Iris Peterson, Prince George, BC
(April 23) I have just entered a report on the robins singing in Prince George. From
about the 12th of April to this week they have been very vocal in the morning. I see my local yard robin foraging for worms, just one, each morning so I don't know if the female is nesting or not. I'll check to find the nest. We've had great weather, which puts us a couple of weeks ahead of where we usually are this time of year. Snow is all gone and the ground is warm enough for grass to sprout and robins to secure worms; however, this morning we had severe wind, thunder, lightening, with hail changing to snow then to rain. The nasty system has passed leaving us with cooler, cloudy, rainy weather. Cheers.

Ute Keitsch, Ajax, ON

(April 23) A pair of Robins where almost finished building their nest and the Grackles took it all apart.They started again. Being next to the marsh we have quite a few Grackles that also nest in the marsh. Today is a sunny day: high of 15 Celsius. YES I HAVE LEAF OUT. I find big caterpillars and the slugs are getting warm.

Wayne Dwornik, Lethbridge AB
4/18/04: Around the home front, not much activity with the robins; I hear them
singing early in the morning, but only see one regularly in the yard, and
not even every day.

Photo Marc Landry

Marc Landry, Beresford, NB
4/19/04: Woke up this morning with a nice cover of snow! Now its raining and the forecast calls for 12oC for this afternoon. I have a pic of a robin under a grey pine hiding from the snow. Also, just to let you know, willow buds are popping open. All this snow and rain as activated the soil and the earth worms are out! I saw 2 this afternoon.

Kris Owens and the Fireweed Kids, Fireweed Academy, Homer, Alaska

Early last week I began wondering where the robins were. The Varied Thrushes suddenly appeared and it seemed like they should be here too. I began asking my students and parents if they had seen any yet (none had), and reminded them to keep their eyes open. Well, I still actually haven't seen any, but I've heard their song several times now, the first time being Thursday the 15th. A true sign of spring we're happy to see!

Ken Moore, Sterling, AB
(April 25) It's sunny, warm and dry here. Temperatures have been in the high teens C for quite some time. Temperatures are predicted to be in the 20s here starting today. We haven't had any appreciable rain (or snow) for quite some time. Farmers and ranchers are fearing that we're in for another drought this year. Trees are coming out these days. Our plants are behind those in the city, 20 minutes away. While lilacs and other flowering shrubs are already blooming in the city we still have yet to see anything that far advanced. Tulips are blooming here though, and the early trees and shrubs are starting to leaf. I'd expect to see the insects start to be more numerous shortly ... and with them the return of all the insect eating birds.

Try This! Journaling Question/Activity

What are your predictions for dates when NOPs will (1) SEE and (2) HEAR their first robins this spring? Keep track of your predictions and results with these download-and-print worksheets for the 2004 season:
NOPs First Seen Robins, 2004

NOPs First Robin Song, 2004