Date: 12/06/2021

Number: 5000

Watched thousands and thousands of robins fly south along the Hudson River for 40 minutes at dusk - amazing sight! Some perched in trees for a quick rest - and then couldn't resist joining back in. Good travels!

[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 12/07/21]:

It was truly a completely amazing experience! They were soaring so fast - some right above the house, others very high in the sky.

we’re on a bluff on the Hudson River and there’s an edge of trees on the north edge of the bluff - and many birds paused on those trees before flying south over our small city. And every bird that I saw in those trees through my binoculars was a Robin. I also caught flashes of red on some flying birds (though I can’t absolutely swear they were all robins).

Whenever there was a lull, I kept thinking it was over - and then more kept coming. I watched for about 40 minutes until they really had all passed by. First I was watching out my double windows upstairs (I have a cold) - and then I just had to go outside. The skies were filled, and they were all excited and chattering. It was crazy beautiful!

My method wasn’t very scientific. Looking out the windows, I saw maybe 80 birds flying fast at one time (more when I went outside) - and they kept coming in a flow for 40 minutes.

[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 12/09/21]:

Every afternoon from about 3:40 to 4:20 on 12/6 to 12/9, I’ve seen thousands of robins flying south. The skies have been completely filled with them - and the only birds that I’ve seen pausing in the trees are definitely robins.

[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 12/13/21]:

This "migration" is happening at the same time every dusk -- and it's not a migration at all! I started to suspect that this huge flock was traveling for feeding -- so I followed them in my car, and sure enough, these thousands of robins were all headed to a swampy area just south of the city. Lots of reeds and bugs in there to feed on -- and a nice safe area to sleep in.

[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 12/15/21]:

The entire sky is completely filled with birds, and their travel south continues for about 45 minutes every day (from about 3:30-4:20 PM).

As I mentioned, we did follow them to a wetlands area south of the city -- where they're swarming, feeding, and (I think) bedding down for the night. Once you pass that low swampy area and start going up the hill, the birds just stop. It's like a magic dividing line -- they just stay in the wetlands.

Also, in the early morning, we've seen large flocks traveling back up north through the city!!!!!!

Hudson, NY

Latitude: 42.3 Longitude: -73.8

Observed by: Linda
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