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Winter Robins: Sign of Spring or Snow?
Today our block had a visit from a flock of at least 100 robins and their fellow travelers, some starlings. A much loved sign of spring, except that it isn't spring: snow is in this week's forecast. so what is up with this guy perched on a redbud branch, and his friends?
Contrary to popular belief, although robins do migrate from their summer breeding grounds, a few usually stay around to feed primarily on fruit, since cold weather eliminates most of their insect food. And they gather in large flocks to travel around, staying just ahead of the worst weather. One site I consulted said that robins have survived snow and ice, and even temperatures of -30F. They run a hot metabolism at a body temperature of 104F, fueled by all that fruit. In our neighborhood, the attraction seemed to be the holly bushes in my neighbors' yards. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see a robin flying toward the lamp at the right of the picture.
Meanwhile, close up in the holly bush, robins were making quick work of the berries. I've seen them descend like this in winter before; often at the university, where a lone mockingbird would try in vain to defend its winter food store (some fruiting ornamental bush) from this marauding gang. I can see 4 birds in this photo--which is only a small detail from a larger one. How many can you see?
In a scene worthy of Alfred Hitchcock, the robins would roost briefly in our trees (here, the oak out front) before taking another dive at the berries. Later, they tried out the lawn to see if any worms were stirring. (Although it got to 54F here yesterday after our long deep freeze, I think they mostly came up empty.) Last, they stopped at our bird spa for a drink and many took a bath in the balmy 44 degree afternoon. If this visit is typical, they will be gone tomorrow, raiding some other street's lode of berries. One source I read noted that birds that eat berries will often wait until the bitter fruits become softened up and sweeter tasting after several bouts of freezing weather, which helps explain why they were here at this point and not earlier. We might have missed them altogether except that the flock was arriving in the neighborhood's tall trees just as we pulled in the drive from church. As I got out of the car I could hear a distinctive robin song--the kind that males sing before sunrise in April to mark their territory. Then I heard the familiar clucking of a lot of robins. I looked up, and there they were. Hungry. Later, an inspection of the sidewalks revealed that we will have some cleaning to do before our neighbor's dog comes over this weekend. She has an unholy appetite for what the birds naturally leave behind! Meanwhile, at least one mockingbird is looking at a diminished larder.
Today our block had a visit from a flock of at least 100 robins and their fellow travelers, some starlings. A much loved sign of spring, except that it isn't spring: snow is in this week's forecast. so what is up with this guy perched on a redbud branch, and his friends?
Contrary to popular belief, although robins do migrate from their summer breeding grounds, a few usually stay around to feed primarily on fruit, since cold weather eliminates most of their insect food. And they gather in large flocks to travel around, staying just ahead of the worst weather. One site I consulted said that robins have survived snow and ice, and even temperatures of -30F. They run a hot metabolism at a body temperature of 104F, fueled by all that fruit. In our neighborhood, the attraction seemed to be the holly bushes in my neighbors' yards. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see a robin flying toward the lamp at the right of the picture.
Meanwhile, close up in the holly bush, robins were making quick work of the berries. I've seen them descend like this in winter before; often at the university, where a lone mockingbird would try in vain to defend its winter food store (some fruiting ornamental bush) from this marauding gang. I can see 4 birds in this photo--which is only a small detail from a larger one. How many can you see?
In a scene worthy of Alfred Hitchcock, the robins would roost briefly in our trees (here, the oak out front) before taking another dive at the berries. Later, they tried out the lawn to see if any worms were stirring. (Although it got to 54F here yesterday after our long deep freeze, I think they mostly came up empty.) Last, they stopped at our bird spa for a drink and many took a bath in the balmy 44 degree afternoon. If this visit is typical, they will be gone tomorrow, raiding some other street's lode of berries. One source I read noted that birds that eat berries will often wait until the bitter fruits become softened up and sweeter tasting after several bouts of freezing weather, which helps explain why they were here at this point and not earlier. We might have missed them altogether except that the flock was arriving in the neighborhood's tall trees just as we pulled in the drive from church. As I got out of the car I could hear a distinctive robin song--the kind that males sing before sunrise in April to mark their territory. Then I heard the familiar clucking of a lot of robins. I looked up, and there they were. Hungry. Later, an inspection of the sidewalks revealed that we will have some cleaning to do before our neighbor's dog comes over this weekend. She has an unholy appetite for what the birds naturally leave behind! Meanwhile, at least one mockingbird is looking at a diminished larder.
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