Journey North American Robin Migration Update: Spring 2009

Migration Update: February 17, 2009

Please Report
Your Sightings! >>

Today's Report Includes:

The Migration: Maps, Questions, Highlights

Counting Robins: Citizen Scientists At Work

Journal Question: What Would a Robin Say?

Getting Ready: Can You Name That Tune?
Links: More Robin Resources to Explore

A Robin in winter?
How can you tell?
Explore! >>

The Migration: Maps, Questions, Highlights

First Seen
(map/sightings)

First Wave
(map/sightings)

First Song Heard
(map/sightings)

Background: About Our Robin Maps
Where Are American Robins in February 2009?
Our Winter Robin Round-up results are in! Many people reported seeing more robins than usual this winter. Let's compare this winter's map to last winter's. What differences do you notice between where robins were seen last winter and this winter? Why might robins be scattered differently this winter than last winter? Handout: How is this winter's map different? Animated Map: Large version

Counting Robins: Citizen Scientists at Work

Reading Selection: Ups and Downs >>

The maps show where you saw robins, while your sighting reports talk about how many. Examples:

"A conservative estimate on Feb. 9 between Little Bluff Conservation Area and Point Traverse put the number at 500 robins. Another observer on Feb. 1 estimated 1,000 robins!" (Quinte, ON)
"On my walk to school today, I saw 23 American Robins at one time sitting on a tree. I could not believe my eyes." (Lewistown, MT)

But can we really know how many robins there are? Why do scientists want counting help from "citizen scientists" like us? What do robin numbers mean, and how do they change? Let's find out: >>

Photo Karen DeMusey

"Isn't it amazing that such a common, easy-to-see backyard bird still holds so many mysteries?"
-Laura Erickson

Journal Question: What Would a Robin Say?

Explore! American Robin Dictionary >>

Many of you reported hearing robins. What were they saying? Dig into our Robin Dictionary to translate robin-speak. Then name the call that a robin would use to "say" each of these things:

"Aren't these berries delicious? What a great day. Off we go into the wild blue yonder!"
Robin call: _______________
"Everybody watch out! Here comes a hawk!"
Robin call: _______________
"Hey, sweetie! Check out MY yard! Wouldn't this be a great place to raise babies? Wouldn't I make a great father to your babies?"
Robin call: _______________

Getting Ready: Can You Name That Tune?

"We have at least 50 robins here now," wrote Sharon from New Jersey on Feb. 5. "We are hearing all sorts of robin sounds, including their 'song,' dawn song, peek and tut, whinny, Seeeee and Zeeeup." Hear what this observer heard with our sound recordings of six common vocalizations robins make. Then listen again to the same calls in scrambled order and see if you can…

Name That Tune! >>

Photo: Tom Grey

Links: More Robin Resources to Explore

Reading Nonfiction: Winter: Where Are our Robins? >>
Contributing: Report Your Robin Sightings >>
Observing: Winter Robins: Six Photo Studies >>
Predicting (Ongoing Lesson to Begin Now): Testing a Temperature Theory About Robin Migration >>
Connecting: Why Do People Count Robins? >>
Analyzing: Making Sense of Robin Migration >>
Background: About Journey North's Robin Migration Study >>

More Robin Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next American Robin Migration Update Will Be Posted on March 3, 2009.