Home and Nesting
Robins have arrived across most of their breeding range, but our northern observers in Shageluk, Alaska are still waiting. It's time for raising babies.
On Territory and Nesting
Reports of FIRST robins are down as more and more robins are on territory and nesting:
Canada: “Two robins were gathering nesting material in the past couple of weeks when the ground thawed. Today, I saw their nest in a shrub that in previous years housed the cardinals’ nest.” Renate from Kitchener, Ontario on April 23, 2018
Ohio: “First it was the house finches, now it’s the robins! Watched a male and female robin couple gathering some thatch from the lawn. It’s nesting season in Cleveland!” Mary on April 24, 2018
New York: “Female robin on my property began gathering grasses and mud for her nest in a pine today. We had a 65° day with a rainy night in the high 40s.” Michelle from Delevan on April 25, 2018
Still Waiting
Our northernmost observation post in Shageluk, Alaska — at 63°N latitude — is still waiting to welcome first robins. Their average sighting date for first arrivals is around April 27th. Watch the maps and predict when robins will reach the end of the migration trail.
“Happy Spring! We are still waiting for our first Robin heard and seen. Nothing yet. We should see soon! Another windy snow/rain storm today! Temps have been in the 40s for well over a week.” Joyanne Hamilton on April 25, 2018
“STILL NO ROBINS IN OUR ENTIRE MIDDLE-YUKON/INNOKO REGION! So we looked at our chart we have of migratory birds that we’ve been documenting since 1995 and the earliest we have seen American Robins are April 10, 2004. The latest we have seen Robins was May 14, 2007. Last year the first robins were heard and seen April 14, 2017. Many birds are very late this year. Only two Tundra Swans have been seen so far, May 1. They also are about two weeks late.” Joyanne on May 2, 2018
Keep Watching and Reporting
Thank you citizen scientists for your observations and photos that helped us track spring’s journey north. Get set for a summer of robin-watching! Please continue to report nesting behaviors to our map.
