When robins go "down south" for the winter, where do they go? Here's a snapshot of robin distribution during February, 1996. These sightings were collected as part of Journey North's Winter Robin Round-Up. Thanks to all who helped collect this information! We've included comments from each observer below. Their E-mail addresses are also included should you desire to contact any of these observers.
According to previous year's records, the robin migration is about to begin. We hope you're on the lookout for robins! When you see the first robin of the year, please send your sightings to Journey North.
How to Send Field Observations to Journey North
You can use the WWW or E-mail to report your sightings. On the WWW, fill out a Field Data Form after selecting the button, "Report Field Observations". Journey North's WWW address is: http://www.learner. org/k12 If you'd like to report your sightings via E-mail, send a message to: jn-report@learner.org We will send you a Field Data Form.
Winter Robin Round-Up, 1996
Robin Sightings Through February, 26, 1996
Date............Location (# Robins)
01/28/96........Leander, Texas ("Hundreds")
01/31/96........Potomac, Maryland (3 or 4 robins)
02/01/96........Kenosha, Wisconsin (1 robin)
02/02/96........Port Townsend, Washington
02/02/96........Glenwood Springs, Colorado (8-10 robins)
02/06/96........Iowa City, Iowa (2 robins)
02/07/96........Iowa City, Iowa (1 robin)
02/09/96........Palo Alto, California (20 robins)
02/10/96........Brazoria County, Texas (Thousands of robins)
02/10/96........Homewood Illinois (1 robin)
02/11/96........College Station, Texas ("Thousands" of robins)
02/11/96........Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts (13 robins)
02/11/96........Kenosha, Wisconsin (1 or 2 robins)
02/11/96........Yakima, Washington (1 robin)
02/11/96........Iowa City, Iowa (1 robin)
02/13/96........Iowa City, Iowa (2 robins)
02/15/96........Lincoln, Nebraska (1 robin)
02/16/96........Annandale, Virginia (1 robin)
02/16/96........Salt Lake City, Utah (4 robins)
02/16/96........Hull, Massachusetts (2 robins)
02/17/96........Vallejo, California (1 robin)
02/17/96........Lincoln, Nebraska (5 robins)
02/20/96........Harts, West Virginia (2 or 3 robins)
02/20/96........Selah,Washington (1 robin)
02/21/96........Arlington, Virginia (1 robin)
02/22/96........Tallahassee, Florida ("Hundreds of robins")
02/22/96........Tallahassee, Florida ( 50 robins)
02/22/96........Hermitage, Tennessee ("Over 400" robins)
02/22/96........Pueblo, Colorado ( 2 robins)
02/23/96........Oakville, Ontario (1 robin)
02/24/96........Homewood, Illinois (2 robins)
02/24/96........Pueblo, Colorado (5,1 robins)
02/24/96........Homewood, Illinois ( 7 robins)
02/26/96........Lincoln, Nebraska (3, 2, 1 robins)
02/26/96........Annandale, Virginia. (1 robin)
Comments From Observers:
From MARYLAND:
January 31, 1996
Three or four birds on the ground in Potomac, Maryland
jhager@bigdog.fred.net
From WISCONSIN
February 1, 1996
The teacher, Mr. Heeter, saw one a couple of weeks ago during our real
cold spell. The bird looked pretty raggety.
theeter@kusd.kusd.edu
From WASHINGTON
February 2, 1996
Mike of ort Townsend, Washington sighted one robin.
smallm@grantpo.ptsd.wednet.edu.
From TEXAS
February 10, 1996
The robins are starting to flock up -- I saw one flight of robins
that crossed the road all around me as I drove for over a mile.
There were no telling how many thousands of birds in that group.
All ready to head north, and it's really going to be pretty quickly,
as time goes. dperkins@tenet.edu
From ILLINOIS
February 10, 1996
I saw a robin on my new bird feeder. He looked happy and content.
Mollie at James Hart Junior High School
ghuizinga@kiwi.dep.anl.gov
From MASSACHUSETTS
February 11, 1996
EmmaBreibart-White and I saw a flock of 13 robins at the Arnold
Arbboretum in Jamaica Plain near Boston, MA. swheel@roscoe.bu.edu
From WISCONSIN
February 11, 1996
Only one or two Robin sightings have been seen this winter by
students of this grade.
From NEBRASKA
February 15, 1996
I saw one robin on top of a gas station roof.
Fredstrom Elementary monarch@lps.esu18.k12.ne.us
From VIRGINIA
February 16, 1996
I only saw one robin. It looked big and fat. It was orange on its
stomach. I saw it perched in an oak tree. Last Friday, it was very
cold and we still had snow on the ground - about 8 inches. Today,
it's much warmer, about 57 degrees, and the snow is gone.
cgarfiel@osf1.gmu.edu
From UTAH
February 16, 1996
It was a nice warm day, and we saw 4 robins in trees near another
elementary school. Since then, it has gotten cold again and we
haven't seen any more. Our school is up higher on the foothills (or
benches as they say here) and our class hasn't seen any robins near
our school yet. Patrick, Grade 1, Eastwood Elementary east5@ibm.net
From MASSACHUSETTS
February 16, 1996
Jesse and Kate saw 1 robin on their way home from school. We were
very surprized, as it is way too early. It definately looked like a
robin. Our teacher's husband also thought he saw a robin that same
week. VBegley@gnn.com
From CALIFORNIA
February 17, 1996
Meredith saw a robin at 2:00pm. on a branch.
jsvoboda@elcentro.napanet.net
From NEBRASKA
February 17, 1996
5 robins were seen at a rural home near Lincoln, NE.
Fredstrom Elementary monarch@lps.esu18.k12.ne.us
From WEST VIRGINIA
February 20, 1996
We do not have any that winter here--at least I sure have never seen
any. However, I already spotted 2 or 3 last Thursday. It seems like
they always come back about this time of the year--it is usually
still a little cold and we always seem to have one more big snow
once they come back. I never could figure out why they always come
back in what seems to be too early but maybe this project will help
me figure it out! coconnel@access.k12.wv.us
From WASHINGTON
February 20, 1996
Grade 4 student Kristiann at Lince Intermediate sighted one robin.
tltaylor@destiny.esd105.wednet.edu
From VIRGINIA
February 21, 1996
One robin seen by Karen Leichtweis. The weather is now 50 degrees
and warming up.
leichtweis@cpb.org
From FLORIDA
February 22, 1996
Hi! My name is Katherine Svoboda, I am in 5th grade at Astoria Park
and my name is Carly Nasehi, and I am in 3rd grade at Trinity
Catholic. We are studying robins at Academic Resource Center. We are
in Mrs. Beck's Journey North Class at Tallahassee, FL. Tallahassee
is the capitol of Florida and we are about 20 miles south of Georgia.
Mrs. Beck has seen hundreds of robins in a field across from Lake
Jackson. Mia Brezin has seen at least 50 robins McCord Park. Every
year, as soon as the first winter storm covers the Northeast with
snow, our first robins arrive in Tallahassee. This is usually
around Christmas. beck@wane-leon-mail.scri.fsu.edu
From TENNESSEE
February 22, 1996
In the past two weeks, students in Mr.Merrick's class have sighted
over 400 American Robins. merric39@telalink.net
From COLORADO
February 22, 1996
Earlier in the week Cherie Sena saw a pair of robins near a walking
trail along the Fountain River, which runs through the city.
From ONTARIO
February 23, 1996
After the first January thaw, I have regularly seen and heard a
Robin in my neighbourhood, except for the 2 weeks of bitter cold in
early February. I saw it again yesterday, February 23, 1996 Rod
Murray, Dolphin Senior Public School doplhiss@village.ca
From ILLINOIS
February 24, 1996
Two birds flew over driveway at 6:45 A.M.
ghuizinga@kiwi.dep.anl.gov
From COLORADO
February 24, 1996
Adam Wiseman saw 5 robins around noon on 2-24 in a rural area near
Pueblo. Allen Stringer saw 1 robin early in the morning in a nearby
area. We have had very warm temperatures for about a week. Today,
Mon., it is snowing and wind is in the forecast for this afternoon.
We are about 120 miles south of Denver. Mrs. Allen's 4th Grade Class
garyt@csn.net
From ILLINOIS
February 24, 1996
7 birds flew over driveway at 6:45 A.M.
Chris Kuehl
From NEBRASKA
February 26, 1996
I saw three robins in my front yard. (Holly Ren)
I saw two robins on my swingset. (Kathy Erickson)
I saw my robin on my horse. (Brendan Bonner)
Fredstrom Elementary monarch@lps.esu18.k12.ne.us
From VIRGINIA
February 26, 1996
Paul Akin saw a robin on Saturday in his backyard in Annandale.
Salli Hama saw two earthworms on Sunday near her home in Annandale,
Virginia. She also saw two today (Monday) in front of Columbia
Elementary School in Annandale.
cgarfiel@osf1.gmu.edu
The Next Robin Migration Update Will Be Posted on March 5, 1996
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