How far north do robins migrate, anyway? When will their migration end? We asked a Journey North school in Alaska and here's what we were told:
"I have seen them (very few) up here in the past, but not yet this year. If memory serves me, we won't see them until after school is out here."
Amy Salling, North Pole Elementary North Pole, Alaska email: npefals@northstar.k12.ak.us
If you look at any field guide for birds you'll see maps known as "range maps". Look up the robin in your field guide and see if you think robins should be found in North Pole, Alaska. The maps in "Birds of North America", by Robbins, Bruun and Zim even show when birds can be expected to arrive each spring at points across North America. Have a look and see when you think they'll reach North Pole.
CHALLENGE QUESTION: Several of the sightings in this report are from Colorado. You'll notice the altitude of the town is included. This is important because animals often arrive later at higher altitudes. Why do you think this is true?
Send your answer to: jnorth@informns.k12.mn.us
Here are the sightings reported since our last update. Remember this mapping suggestion: Designate separate colors to represent specific periods of time. For example, use red to mark sightings made during the month of February, blue for March sightings, green for April and so on. This way, your map will indicate the change in the migration over time. (Avery-brand color-coding labels work beautifully.)
Date Location Feb. 18 Swansea, Massachusetts Feb. 28 Monument, Colorado March 4 Kingston, Ontario March 15 Crested Butte, Colorado March 16 Hopkins, Minnesota March 16 Mankato, Minnesota March 16 Cosmos, Minnesota March 24 Chisholm, Minnesota March 24 Edmonton, Alberta March 25 Wellesley, Massachusetts March 30 Denver Colorado April 7 Fort McMurray, Alberta
February 18 I spotted my first robin on a nice afternoon on February 18th in Swansea, Massachusetts. I was driving my car along the 195N highway. My mother and I were talking about the weather - how nice a winter we've had up this way. After spotting the robin my mother talked to me about her mother and how she would love to see the first robin appear up in Canada. My grandmother always spoke of how the Canadian robins were always more beautiful than here in Massachusetts. I think she just missed her home. It's now April 6th, and I can honestly tell you that there seems to be more robins than I remember at this time last year. Happy bird watching! Denise st_yves@meol.mass.edu
February 28 Lewis Palmer Elementary School in Monument, Colorado has a question regarding robin migration from Chris and Becka who are in the 3rd grade. We saw our first robin on February 28th. Since then it has snowed at least 4 times. We live near the mountain at an altitude of 7,300 feet. Does our altitude have anything to do when we saw our first robin in spring? Thanks in advance. Bev Janik Parent Volunteer bsl@csn.org
March 4 Here around Kingston, at the end of Lake Ontario in Canada, a few robins have overwintered. They now do this regularly in the St. Lawrence valley, particularly during mild winters such as this last one. I saw one in the town during a mild spell in January. The spring arrivals started early this month. One male was in my garden on 4th March, and throughout the city robins moved in around this time, although it was not until perhaps two weeks afterwards that they became really common. Muldal Sylfest 3sm7@qlink.queensu.ca
March 15 We sighted our first robins! We are in Crested Butte, Colorado, 107 W,39 N, 9,000 ft. elevation. The first one we know of was spotted on Wednesday March 15 (the Ides of March). The average temperature for the week was 29F. The following week March 22-28 was 25F, and the next one, March 29-April 4 was18F. I guess we kind of "messed up" the theory. Also, we started seeing earthworms on Friday, April 7, although the robins probably saw them sooner. We still have lots of snow on the ground, but it is starting to melt away from the roads, and that's where you see lots of robins, especially when it's snowing. Susan Hoffman shoffman@csn.org
March 16 We saw a robin March 16th in Hopkins, MN. Tony Klappa and Andrew James sue_dewit@hopkins.k12.mn.us
March 16 My ecology class saw robins in our school area (Mankato West High School) on March 16th. Ronald Salazar High School Science Teacher Mankato, Minnesota rsalaz1@west.isd77.k12.mn.us
March 16th Sorry we are reporting this sighting so late. My name is Jesse Bjur and I am reporting from ACGC South Elementary in Cosmos, MN. Our approximate latitude and longitude is: 95 degrees 30' W & 45 degrees N. A number of students in my class have reported to us numerous sighting of robins on the 16th of March. Many geese and ducks are arriving daily as well. During the week of the 20th of March thru the 24th there were numerous sightings of trumpeter swans just to the northeast of Cosmos, near Grove City. We thought they were snow geese but our resident goose hunter said they were not. We are now watching for the loons and the ice out but not in that order.ACGC South Elementary in Cosmos, MN 0461sel@informns.k12.mn.us
March 24 In Cranston, Rhode Island I spotted a flock of over 100 robins on Friday, March 24th Ben Sadler Fayerweather Street School,Cambridge, Massachusetts connie@BUCRF15.BU.EDU
March 24 Greetings from Canada's largest northern city! Edmonton, Alberta sits in the aspen parkland betwen the prairies to the SE and the boreal forest to the north and west. Last Friday morning I spotted 8 robins feasting on old crabapples in a neighbour's yard in SW Edmonton. Now we can even hear one singing at my workplace, the Devonian Botanic Garden half an hour drive SW of the city. Juncos and a tree sparrow have also been seen. The swans were moving north in numbers by March 17. Great signs of spring! The aspen poplars still not flowering yet. Cheerio, Elisabeth Beaubien Alberta Wildflower Survey ebeaubie@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca
March 24 Hi from Mr. Abraham's Fifth Grade Class in Chisholm, Minnesota. We are located in northern Minnesota, 6 miles east of Hibbing and 70 miles north of Duluth. Our coordinates are 47.5 North Latitude and 92.8 West Longitude. Sorry we are late, but we had problems with or computer. Members of our class have had reports of individual robins during the third week of March, but the most reports came on March 24. This week the robins have had to search under the snow for food, because we had 4 inches of snow on Tuesday. Most of the snow is still on the ground--Good luck robins. 0695cel@InforMNs.k12.MN.US
March 25 At Wellesley College I saw around 20 robins scattered on the college field on Saturday, March 25th. Greg Kreischer, Fayerweather Street School Cambridge, Massachusetts connie@BUCRF15.BU.EDU
March 30 Dear Robinaires, Monterey School, Colorado Springs, CO has seen its first robin on March 30 at 10:15 am., in Denver Colorado, elevation 5280'. Mrs. Pearce was up in Denver visiting and saw the robin in a parking lot! How romantic! Oh well! Good Luck, bird watchers, Mrs. Pearc Monterey School Colorado Springs, Colorado pearceww@rmii.com
April 7 Greeting from Ken Sanderson, Fort McMurray, AB While on vacation in Jasper, Alberta on April 7 I seen approx 12 robins. I continued to see robins all weekend. When they reach my home in Fort McMurray I will let everyone know! ksanders@ccinet.ab.ca