Thanks to the thirty people who reported sightings new this week! You'll find their comments and a Field Data chart below. Over the next weeks, robins will be moving into areas where there are fewer people to report them. Therefore, until the end of May, our migration updates will be posted every 2 weeks.
Robin Watching
If you've already spotted your first robin of the season, don't stop looking. There are many interesting things about robins which you can see through careful observation:
* Watch for the return of the first female robins. Their feathers are noticeably duller than those of the male. Count the number of days between the arrival of the first robin (presumably a male) and the arrival of the first female. Let us know what you discover by sending e-mail to: jnorth@learner.org
* What are the advantages of arriving early in the spring? As many students describe below in response to last week's Challenge Question, male robins arrive early in order to set up their territories. Spend a half hour on the battle ground with them. Sit quietly and get to know the individual robins. Bird song is really a battle cry, used by the robin to tell others he's defending an area. Count the number of times a robin sings in a half hour. Birds sing far more frequently in the spring while setting up territories. If you were to spend a half hour in August listening things would be noticeably quiet.
Watch for battles between males. If you see one, send an e-mail message to Journey North and describe what you saw. There are stories of robins who battle their own reflections in a window-- sometimes to the point of hurting themselves!
Robin Sightings Reported March 19-March 25, 1996
Date............Location
02/26/96........Owensboro, KY
O3/01/96........Arcade, NY
03/01/96........Elwood, NE
03/03/96........Hudson, MA
03/05/96........Whitwell, TN
03/10/96........Lititz, PA
03/12/96........Chippewa Falls, WI
03/13/96........Rochester, NY
03/13/96........SpringArbor, MI
03/13/96........Menomonie, WI
03/14/96........Olean, NY
03/14/96........Pennington, NJ
03/14/96........Hamilton, NY
03/15/96........Iowa City, IA
03/15/96........Massachusetts
03/16/96........Kent, WA
03/16/96........Lock Haven, PA
03/16/96........Great Falls, MT
03/17/96........Delevan, NY
03/17/96........Sea Cliff, NY
03/17/96........Rice, MN
03/17/96........Collingwood, OT
03/17/96........Beloit, WI
03/18/96........Elmont, NY
03/18/96........Lititz, PA
03/18/96........Elmont, NY
03/18/96........Philadelphia, NY
03/18/96........White Earth, MN
03/19/96........Toms River, NJ
03/19/96........Olean, NY
03/13/96........Ithaca, NY
03/19/96........Pennington, NJ
03/20/96........Tallahassee, FL
03/20/96........Newington, CT
03/20/96........Hudson, MA
03/24/96........Salt Lake City, UT
03/25/96........Hudson Falls, NY
From KENTUCKY:
February 26, 1996
Robins have been seen in our area since the last week in February.
Drew Bennett, Sixth Grade
College View Middle School
Owensboro, KY plindsey@davednet.daviess.k12.ky.us
From NEW YORK:
March 1-19, 1996
The robins are definitely here in western New
York and have been for three weeks. My students and I have
seen approx. 150 robins in different locations at a variety
of times. We are located about 35 miles southeast of
Buffalo. We'll keep counting. The males are now setting up
their breeding territories as evidenced by the nightly
calling and challenges I'm now hearing in East Aurora where I live.
Mr. Richards fifth grade class
Pioneer Middle School
From NEBRASKA:
March 1-6, 1996
March 1 First robin seen
March 6 I saw a flock of approx. 30-40 robins in front of my home
on March 6.
Mrs. Blessing, Elwood Elementary
Elwood, Nebraska
jblessin@courier.esu11.k12.ne.us
From MASSACHUSETTS:
March 3-16
On 3/3/96 My dad and I saw a robin building a nest in a tree in our
backyard! It was the first one sighted in our class.
On 3/12/96 I saw 2 robins in my yard in Hudson, Massachusetts.
On 3/12/96 I saw 16 robins in my yard!
On 3/16/96 I finally saw a robin in my backyard. Spring is here!
Nate Baran, Braden Gellenthien and Joan Michalski
Dawn Sather sather@wetland.ultranet.com
From TENNESSEE:
March 5, 1996
Robin reported by Libba and Derek,
Whitwell Middle School
enelson@cecasun.edu.utc
From PENNSYLVANIA:
March 10, 1996
Austin Heacock saw eleven robins in his neighbor's yard on 3/10;on
March 15, Chris Scheid reported that he saw at least 40 robins in a
week's time; and Lauren Hall saw a robin on March 21 in a tree in her
backyard. It was 45 degrees.
Kissel Hill Elementary, Lititz, PA
dpcker@postoffice.ptd.net
From WISCONSIN:
March 12, 1996
We are fifth grade students in Mrs. Ellen Yindra's class in west
central Wisconsin. We live in Chippewa Falls. We finally witnessed
our first "true" sign of spring. The first robin sightings occurred
on Tuesday, March 12,1996. There were several reported sightings. It
was even reported on the evening news! Our temperatures have been
warming. We were lucky last week and had temps in the low 50's, but
this week we are back to highs in the low 30's. We are having a lot
of fun tracking the movement of the robin as it moves northward!
American Robin - there were several reported sightings on 3/12/96. It was even reported on the evening news. Maybe, spring is finally on the way. We are anxious for spring to arrive in full force. We have had enough of winter this year! We have had so much snow this year! Our playground is now a lake, although we still have huge piles of snow to melt down. The robins will be seeing white for quite some time yet!
Mrs. Ellen Yindra,
Stillson Elementary imcstils@cesa10.k12.wi.us
From NEW YORK:
March 13-18, 1996
Robins have arrived in Rochester - at least a few. 4th grader - Matt
Winters, saw a robin flying by on March 13 while he was waiting for his
bus.On March 15th Gabriel Torres saw several robins while at his bus stop
about 7:20 AM. Gill Petri, my husband and a biology teacher in the
Pittsford School District saw two robins on March 15th while walking our
dog. And yesterday, on March 18th, Mr. Miller, our Art Teacher, saw a robin
on our school grounds. The kids in his art class saw it too! Most of the
snow is off the ground, but we are supposed to have more this week. Mrs.
Sawicki's fourth grade class is mapping robin sightings on a large map
outside of the Library. They are using different colored dots for each
month.
Fyle Elementary School, gpetri@mail.monroe.edu
From MICHIGAN:
March 13, 1996
We have been tracking the
isotherm in our area and that same week our isotherm hit 37 degrees for
the first time. That is really exciting.
Mrs.H, Derek, Michelle, Warner Elementary
sharon@cirrus.sprl.umich.edu
From WISCONSIN:
March 13, 1996
Ethan's grandmother reported the
sighting to him.Brittanni and Brooke saw 2 robins near their
grandmother's clothesline.
Ethan Kaiser, Brittanni and Brooke Hakanson
Tiffany Creek Elementary plaehnc@uwstout.edu
From NEW YORK:
March 14, 1996
Spotted March 14 7:37 A.M. 1 robin
Melissa Snyder & Charlene Granger
East View Elementary School
cgranger@erie.wnyric.org
From NEW JERSEY:
March 14, 1996
Annie and Hayley sighted two robins while walking down the street. One was
big and one was small. We will be checking the information to learn how to
identify the males and females. We will begin charting temperature changes
with our sightings!!
Miss Ladd's class and Hayley and Annie
Toll Gate Grammar School
Miss_Laddhvrsd.k12.nj.us
From NEW YORK:
March 14, 1996
From Hamilton, New York 42'36"N
75'40"W 2 robins were sighted on 3/14, a very warm day and 1 robin on 3/16,
which was cold with a windchill in the teens. We still have snow on the
ground and our isothem for last week was 32.
Ms. P. McGill's class
pmcgill@center.colgate.edu
From IOWA:
March 15, 1996
I saw three robins on the baby swing and one of them was looking for food
in Hawkeye Court at 8:30 am. I am a sixth grade student at Weber Elementary
School. The temperature is in the 50's today in Iowa City.
Wei Shi,Cristel Jusino, Mrs. Kurtz's Class,
Weber School kurtz@iowa-city.k12.ia.us
From MASSACHUSETTS:
March 15, 1996
We are at 42.4 N latitude, 72.5 W longitude. The week beginning March 15,
we spotted 15 robins. Every day we keep a chart of our findings. We are
continuing to see robins. Our isotherm reached 37 degrees the week ending
on Mar. 15. Now we are going to watch the wind direction.
E. Donoghue's Class, Wildwood ES wwes1@k12.oit.umass.edu
From WASHINGTON:
March 16-17, 1996
Over the weekend 03/16 and 03/17:
The Robins have arrived. Everyone in our class saw Robins this weekend.
Grass Lake Elementary, wharness@kent.wednet.edu
From PENNSYLVANIA:
March 16, 1996
My friends, Ashely Greene, Nirali Bhatt, and I were walking around our
nieghborhood at noon, when we saw one robin.
Meghan McManus and Nirali Bhatt
Lock Haven High School Nheilman@oak.kscd.k12.pa.us.
From MONTANA:
March 16, 1996
It was great! My first two robins of spring! We saw them in one of our
local parks.
Liz Larcom, Home School
Great Fall, MT Llarcom@aol.com
From NEW YORK:
March 17, 1996
I have not personally seen a robin but over
half a dozen others have told me of their sighting. In
western New York we eagerly watch for all signs of spring
after our long, dreary, snowy and cold winters. More snow
is forecast, as usual, and the robins already here will
probably be a bit hungry until that snow melts.
Barbara Zepp, Alice Schiltz, Lora Lee Downer and many others
Delevan Elementary School stephani_elle@pion.wynyric.org
From NEW YORK:
March 17, 1996
I saw a robin on my bush in my backyard. The date was March 17,1996.It was
a sunny day but a little cold.
Meredith Vogenberger, Sea Cliff School
nsscs@li.net
From MINNESOTA:
March 17, 1996
Robin Migration One robin was spotted in Rice, Mn
Jim Minerich, Pequot Lakes School
jmineric@voyager.informns.k12.mn.us
From ONTARIO:
March 17, 1996
I saw one robin by himself. The weather last week was quite nice, highs
1-10 degrees C. However today we are expecting 15cm of snow with winds up
to 75km. This should be quite a shock for the robin.
Mark Dunlop, Cameron St. P. S.
Collingwood, Ontario cameron@georgian.net
From WISCONSIN:
March 17, 1996
The class sighted a total of 28 robins
6th Grade, John Soehnlein, Aldrich Middle School, Beloit, WI
soehnlei@beloit.edu
From NEW YORK:
March 18, 1996
Jason and Frankie saw robins on the same day in their backyards. Jeffrie
saw robins on Belmont Blvd., the same street as our school.
Jason Osman, Frankie Brucella, Jeffreie Villacres
Mrs. Buchanan, Clara H. Carlson School
k12elpzr@vaxc.hofsta.edu
From PENNSYLVANIA:
March 18, 1996
My dad and I saw about 20 robins in the field behind my backyard. They
were looking for food when we saw them. Today, there were a bunch of
robins in the tree. They looked like they were looking for a place to
build a nest. I think they will probably being building soon.
Melissa and Kristin spotted four robins in Melissa's back yard. Sean and
his mom saw three on their roof.
Adrienne Posey, Kissel Hill Elem.
dpacker@postoffice.ptd.net
From NEW YORK:
March 18, 1996
Carolyn Seyster came home from school at 3:43 to find a robin In front of
her house. It was 45 degrees outside.
Mrs. Drew/Mrs. Richards
Covert Avenue School
PHYLLIS RICHARDS k12elpzr@vaxc.hofsta.edu
From NEW YORK:
March 18, 1996
Michael and Donald at Philadelphia New York.
The date is March 21st.We have had many sightings. Starting on Tuesday March
12th: 20 Geese. Next there was a sighting on Friday the 15th: 3 Seagulls.
Then there was a sighting of 2 Robins on the 18th. On the 19th there was a
sighting of 10 Geese. Then yesterday our classmate saw 20 Geese.
The weather was fine , but yesterday it snowed and rained.
PPrimary@aol.com
From MINNESOTA:
March 18, 1996
2 robins sighted on White Earth Indian Reservation
White Earth, Minnesota
From NEW JERSEY
March 19, 1996
I was driving along a superhighway at lunch time (1:05) and was thrilled to
see the brunt red breast of a male robin. I know from our research the the
females won't be far behind. Now it is official Spring is here!
Clare Devine, North Dover Elementary
tomsriver@igc.apc.org
From NEW YORK:
March 19-21, 1996
I saw 1 robin 7:40am 3-19-96
I saw 3 robins 8:00 am3-21-96 My name is Jason Gattuso
I saw 2 robins 11:40am 3-21-96
Charlene Granger, East View Elementary School
cgranger@erie.wnyric.org
From NEW YORK:
March 19, 1996
My first American Robins of the year were two I saw in flight over
the Mt. Pleasant Hawk Observation Station just east of Ithaca. This
morning, 19/03/96, I heard a robin singing.
Mary Fischer, mf26@cornell.edu
From NEW JERSEY:
March 19, 1996
On Tuesday March 19, Grant and his family spotted a robin in the backyard.
Kristin saw 8 robins in her front lawn on the same day before she came to
school. Denise's mom saw a robin in a nearby town. She said the
temperature was "pretty warm". Eileen saw a robin before she left for
school on Friday, March 22. We are beginning to see robins everyday! Our
study of birds and weather begins next week. This should be very exciting
to chart!
Miss Ladd's class ,Toll Gate Grammar School
Miss_Laddhvrsd.k12.nj.us
From FLORIDA:
March 20, 1996
We live in Tallahassee,Florida. Yesterday my friend and I each
spotted a robin. I'm not sure where I was, but I saw a robin near town.
My friend spotted a robin by Gilcrest Elem. School.We hope this will help
you track down the robins.
Your Friends, Star Berger and Elizabeth Lands
Academic Resource Center
Sandy Beck beck@wane-leon-mail.scri.fsu.edu
From CONNECTICUT:
March 20, 1996
four robins,8:00 a.m. 45 degrees, cloudy (plenty of left over worms from rain
previous evening).
Mary Claffey, Science Center Nursery School
Claffey@CCSU.CTSTATEU.EDU
From MASSACHUSETTS:
March 20, 1996
I saw seven robins in my back yard. I am the principal of Forest Avenue
School and I think "Journey North" is a fantastic program!
Mr. Calnan, Forest Avenue School
Dawn Sather sather@wetland.ultranet.com
From UTAH:
March 24, 1996
They came back last week, and snowed a couple days ago, and they are still
here!!! They don't like snow, so they would land on cleared driveways/side
walks. We think they are starting to mate, because they are chaseing each
other around in the air. They sing the most at 6:15 AM -9:00 AM this
season.
Tommy East, Eastwood Elementary
keast@ibm.net
From NEW YORK:
March 25, 1996
Several people have come to see me over the last week to report sightings
of robins in the area. I guess spring is really coming!
Marcia Krantz, Hudson Falls Junior High
HFMiddle@Global1.net
The Next Robin Migration Update Will be Posted on April 9, 1996
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