Date: 02/11/2001

Number: 1

Robins in MA are interesting birds. They are common and widespread breeders, often seen on (untreated) lawns. Many people (non-birders) assume that they leave in the winter and therefore are a SIGN OF SPRING when seen on your lawn
in March and April. Truth is that many (but by no means all) Robins change their behavior. Depending on:
1. Depth of snow
2. Availability of wild fruit (here: bittersweet, crab apples, sumac et)
Flocks of Robins (sometimes large) will attempt to overwinter VERY LOCALLY. At these times, they often form large communal evening roosts in dense
evergreens (sometimes non-native species like arbor vitae) or even plants like phragmites (another invasive) and spread out from these points in the morning to feed wherever fruit is found. BTW: this is much the same behavior found in another thrush, Eastern Bluebird.

This year, the state food crop has been pretty poor, but still every once in awhile you come across small groups of Robins. The "other" Robins migrate short distances down the coast to where food and snow depth are more
favorable.

The point is, even in a poor food year, there are always Robins with us, if in much reduced numbers.

Worcester, MA

Latitude: 42.3 Longitude: -71.8

Observed by:
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