Over-wintering
robins
Robins typically travel in flocks and follow food sources in winter.
Report your sightings.
First
male robin The
male’s brightly-colored breast and vivid dark head distinguish
it from the drab female.
First
wave of robins
A "wave" (three or more robins together) is a peak migration
event.
Average temperature reaches 36°F
Test an age-old hypothesis. Do robins arrive and sing when the average
temperature reaches 36°F? Learn how to measure and graph the isotherm.
First
earthworm How does the timing of robin migration relate
to the reappearance of worms in the spring?
First
robin heard singing
Means your resident robin has arrived and is establishing territory.
Learn the robin's
song!
First
female robin Females arrive later than males, from a few days to two
weeks.
First
males seen in battle
Means the male robins are fighting over territories.
Nest
building begins
Watch for signs such as the male or female flying with nest materials,
or the female with mud on breast. Both gather nest materials but usually
only the female builds. She may begin within a day or two after arrival.
It usually takes 2-6 days to build a nest.
Incubation
of eggs underway Females spend about 50 minutes of every hour incubating,
so you can assume she's incubating when you see her less often!
Young
hatch
Usually about 12-14 days after last egg laid. Watch for adult flying
with worm, rather than eating it. Broken pieces of blue eggshell on
ground may be a sign of eggs hatching OR of a nest predator.
First
young fledge Both parents feed the babies. About 9-16 days after eggs
hatch the young leave the nest or fledge. Watch for flightless
robins with a spotted breast on the ground or in low branches.
First
young take wing During the first 2-3 days after fledging, the young make
their first clumsy flights. Watch how long it takes before they become
good fliers.
Parents
start nesting all over again When suddenly only dad is feeding fledglings, mom is probably
sitting on eggs again. Sometimes she uses the old nest and sometimes
she builds a brand new one.