Journey North American Robin Spring 2004

American Robin Winter Round-Up Reminder: February 10, 2004

Today's Report Includes:

A Few of This Week's Robin Highlights
How to Participate in Journey North's Winter Robin Round-Up
Reminder: Please Report Migrating Earthworms Too

Photo Anne Cook

A Few of This Week's Robin Highlights
The Winter Robin Round-Up is underway, and next week we announce the results. We want to hear if robins are spending the winter with you! But whether staying put or on the move, robins gave observers some recent thrills. Here are a few of the tales. Watch for more with next week's Round-Up Map and news!

Marcellus, NY, Feb. 9: "We have had over 145 inches of snow this winter (much of it in the past 3 weeks) and days down to minus 18 F. It's been a difficult winter, and it's a pleasure to hear the wintering robins chirping (ALMOST makes me remember Spring.)" -Sue
England,Feb. 4: "Here in England we currently have two over-wintering American Robins that arrived in late Autumn. One is in Cornwall (the southwest tip of the UK). The other is near Grimsby in Lincolshire on the East Coast of England. I hope this may be of interest to your students. These are quite a rarity as only around 10 have ever occurred in England." -Mark
Media, PA, Feb 3: "Robins have been wintering in my area for the past 5 years! I first observed them on a cold, snowy day. I couldn't believe my eyes! Since then, I've observed, each subsequent winter, robins digging in leaves left over from the fall, singing in my woods, drinking from the creek. This year we've had a harsh winter. But the robins still stayed around. On my way home from work yesterday, there was a fat robin sitting in the middle of a snowy puddle, taking a bath." -Dolly

How to Participate in Journey North's Winter Robin Round-Up
Remember: we're still collecting sightings for one more week in this year's Winter Robin Round-Up--so please make sure to tell us about YOUR wintering robins. When you spot a robin, report it by pressing the Owl button on any Journey North page.

IMPORTANT: Our goal is to show where robins are present in early February. This means that ANY robin seen during this time is considered a "winter" sighting. On the Web, click on the Owl Button at the top of any Journey North page to report your own sightings and to read the sightings of others. Watch for a full update next week with a new map showing where robins are spending the winter of 2004. (We'll also give you the data so you can make your own map.)

Thank you for your help!

Reminder: Please Report Migrating Earthworms!
Even though they only travel a few feet, earthworms undergo a "vertical" migration each spring after the ground thaws. See what we mean:

A Vertical Migration

If earthworms have wriggled to the surface where you live, please let us know! We'll include a map and data on March 26 and May 7. Meanwhile, watch for intriguing connections between robin and earthworm migration in this season's reports.

The Next American Robin Migration Update Will Be Posted on February 17, 2004.