Tachus

Dave, that is really early for robins in Michigan. I'm wondering if they even left, it has been so warm this year.

Tachus

I don't mind at present but I know I will do so in the spring. Last year it took from spring to fall before the grass recovered and I didn't like it. May be I will seed the area in the spring and hope the birds don't come and eat the seed but I suspect that I will have taught them well to come to that area of the garden.

dlq04

Talking to friends at the pub last night two different couples said they saw entire trees of them this week. I am pretty sure these never left Michigan. But this is the first time we've ever seen them in the middle of the winter.

A Few Facts About Robin Migration

All robins are not the same: The vast majority of robins do move south in the winter. However, some stick around — and move around — in northern locations.

Robins migrate more in response to food than to temperature. Fruit is the robin's winter food source. As the ground thaws in the spring, they switch to earthworms and insects. While the robins may arrive when temperatures reach 37 degrees, this is because their food becomes available not because the robins themselves need warm temperatures.

Robins wander in the winter: Temperatures get colder as winter progresses. Robins need more food when it's cold and more and more of the fruit gets eaten. Robins move here and there in response to diminishing food supplies and harsh weather. If all robins wintered at their breeding latitude, there wouldn't be enough fruit for them all. So robins tend to spread out in the winter in search of fruit. Most hang out where fruit is abundant, but some take the risk of staying farther north where smaller amounts of fruit remain.

Robins sing when they arrive on territory: Robins sing when they arrive on their breeding territories. Sometimes robins even sing in winter flocks, due to surging hormones as the breeding season approaches. However, in the majority of cases, robins really do wait to sing until they have reached their territory.

Morris

We have been in this house in the country for 20 years. A few years ago, and only that once, we had robins migrating through the area. They filled the oak trees, sat awhile, then flew off, and were replaced by another batch. Must have had a thousand robins fly by in a couple hours.

Lainey

I often see robins all year long.

Today as the snow came in, I had a pair of cardinals, one little song sparrow and a junco or two. They were the only ones, all the others had gone into hiding for the storm.

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[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48ahUZUMHPQ&feature=youtu.be[/media]

Bluejays vs Blackbirds Peanut stealing contest

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Lainey

I need to go bang the snow off the feeders.

The song sparrow has been a steady customer the last couple of days. Often the only bird in the yard, braving the elements.

Lainey

I just dumped the snow off the feeders, dumped out the seed on the ground for any groundfeeding birds. The feeders were rather wet inside so the seed would likely rot anyway....Fresh food so the buffet is open again.

Tachus

Dave, thanks for the information on robins. I didn't know any of it. Now I'm wondering if I should be putting fruit out but I think the squirrels would run off with it.

Tachus

I arrived home this afternoon to find the lawn covered in starlings and a robin in the hedgerow. Spring must be on the way.