Robin

We use our front yard mostly to reach the car in the circular drive and to cross the road to our rural mailbox. In early June we noticed a large bird nest in the maple tree near the front door.. We couldn't be certain if the nest was an old abandoned one or one newly constructed this spring.  The last time we had seen any activity in this tree, a pileated woodpecker visited for several days in early April.

Now and then we  glanced at the seemingly empty nest above us.  On June 15th we saw movement in the nest. After watching  patiently for several minutes, we could see Mama Robin quietly and motionlessly guarding her young. We took several photos of her sitting on the edge of the nest.  She was waiting to see our next move.

We decided to let the family have some privacy. A lot of feeding activity by mom and dad went on for days in that tree.   Then we saw the babies looking very lost and hungry, perch on our stack of logs about two weeks later. We could easily recognize these little guys, but unfortunately, most of the photos were taken too far away to be really clear.

Me first! Me first!

Robins are associated with many firsts.  This distinctive bird is  the first one most children recognize and remember.  The plain, grayish black back coupled with a bright red breast can be seen everywhere- backyards, towns, farms and school playgrounds.

The first bird to sing at early dawn (sometimes by streetlights) will probably be a robin. Both male and female cheerily call all day until well after sunset.

"The early bird catches the worm" must be a quote about the robin.  They are frequently pictured pulling and tugging that early worm.

But the biggest first associated with robins has to be that their early "arrival " heralds the start of spring.. In truth, as insects and worms become less available in autumn and winter, the robin retreats from lawns and fields and settles further into  swampy, woody areas  for a diet of fruit and berries and insect eggs.  As spring weather warms the open lands, the robins come out to again feast on insects and worms. The erroneous assumption is that they have now just arrived from the south. Either way, seeing  the first robin pulling worms from lawns, still means the hopeful start of spring weather.

November 28, 2008 - Following a pileated woodpecker into the woods with the camera lens, Food Guy saw a small group of four robins in one tree. (This photo was the sharpest of the group.) So, our robins did head further into our wooded area and didn't migrate south. (If they're closer at hand, does that mean spring is closer, as well? --- Guess not.)

In spring and summer, our robins were not as gregarious (instinctively seeking the company of others ) as they appear to be in cold weather.  This is true of most birds, as there is no need for competition over territory and mate selection in fall and winter.

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