Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Early birds seeking worms


We have been inundated with American robins this winter.  They are not unknown visitors to our property. But this year, we've seen scads of them.

Frequently in the last few weeks, we have looked out the window to see a crowd of them getting a drink at a birdbath or busily searching the ground for a delectable dinner morsel (according to Birds of North America, their diet changes by season: primarily soft invertebrates in the spring and summer, primarily berries in the fall and winter). When we walk down to the chicken coop, we often scare up a group that goes winging off through the trees.

"Hey lady, quit taking pictures and fill up this bath, would ya!"


I love their beautiful orange breasts and their gaudy heads, with dark hoods punctuated by white-outlined eyes (nature's eye-liner). I love their social nature. Like many teenagers, they prefer being surrounded by a noisy crowd of friends. They seem to be very wary. I barely tapped the window with my camera lens yesterday and the whole flock fled . . .  and has not returned.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds has a recording of the robin's cheery song and more information.

We had a crew of robins visit years ago; usually we just see an occasional robin. My bird book says their numbers vary from winter to winter. I’m so happy they’ve decided to hang in our 'hood this year!

10 comments:

  1. What a wonderful visitation!

    I'm jealous--we're not many miles away and I've only seen occasional robins.

    Here in Texas I think of robins in tandem with cedar waxwings that fly in for (duh) cedar berries. This year's berry crop is sparse and I'm wondering whether the birds will move on quickly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love cedar waxwings! Have only seen one so far this year. Yeah, I'm not sure what they are eating, but I guess they are finding something!

      Delete
  2. We had a lot of Robins last year. Haven't seen many this year, yet.
    I like your birdbath sitting in the pond.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Linda! Originally we had a solar pump so water would spill over, to draw birds and aerate pond; that did not last too long. Now it's just an easier way for the birds to get water.

      Delete
  3. I haven't seen any this year yet! What a crew you've got there! Does this mean spring will be showing up early?

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I just hope you got some water into that bath for the robins-- clearly your garden has been listed in some bird newspaper as a four-star accommodation!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Man, I just love dem robins. they are all purdy and what-not.

    ReplyDelete