The 1st robins seen . . . ? Is spring here now . . .?

[copperkid3]

Just occurred to me, that I may be the first to have seen a flock of 50-60

on the way into town this past Monday. Had to do a double-take to make

sure, as they were gathered on someone's front yard that still had 2-3" of

crusty snow and a coating of ice. Makes one wonder if they know something

that doesn't appear likely to the rest of us. No worms available yet. . . .

South-central Michigan.

[johng]

We use to get lots of Robbins here during the winter but, now I see very few each year.

[soulsurvivor]

We have a few robins that overwinter here, but don't have any species in the numbers that used to be here, winter or summer. I figure we live next to Monsanto corn fields and that has a lot to do with the reduced insect populations, and token of that is a reduced bird population.

[SoINgirl]

They have been out here for awhile, a big bunch of geese flew over the house the other day going north. I think they are good signs.

[Kris in MI]

No robins here yet, but we've had flocks of starlings returning for the last 10 days or so.

[Bearfootfarm]

We have Daffodils blooming, so Spring is almost here

[Callieslamb]

My friend saw a robin in her yard this morning. They don't overwinter here from what I understand so it's supposed to be a good thing. Time will tell if the robins know what's what or not.

[Fae]

Here in southwest Alabama robins are here only in the late winter. They are never here in summer. My family lives in north Louisiana and they have robins in summer. I would not have thought there was that much difference in the climate. Everyone thinks robins are a sign of spring but around here they are a sign of wet cold weather. The yard will be full of them. I think it just goes to show how we are conditioned to believe what we see and here on tv and in books without checking to see if it applies to us. I know I always believed it until I observed for myself that I had them in winter only and my Mother loved to watch them in summer.

[tinknal]

Some robins are nonmigratory, they stick around all winter. There is an article in today's Minneapolis startribune on this very subject, I'll look for a link.

[tinknal]

Found it.
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle...190895191.html

[MO_cows]

No robins here yet, but the geese are on the move already. Big flocks of Canada and Snow geese. I almost hate to see an early spring because it is a carbon copy of last year's mild winter and early spring that was a precursor to drought. I would rather have snow by the foot than another year as dry as last year!

[unregistered65598]

They don't over winter here and we saw 2 in our yard about 1 1/2 weeks ago, I can say spring is nowhere near. It's forcasted for the 20's the next 10 days.

[bja105]

I didn't think they overwintered here, but some must. I saw one last month when it was in the single digits. I twice flushed it from a bush on the side of the house I was working at. My sister is an avid bird watcher and has seen several this winter.

[Horseyrider]

The migratory ones usually show up here right around March 8th through the 10th. But I saw my first one here yesterday. It was in the middle of a forest preserve where there are wetlands, so I'm wondering if it was a non-migratory one.

It's definitely the earliest I've ever seen.

[Skookumchuck]

We had 60-70 Robins invade theyard on Monday this week first of the year here in mid MO.

[ronbre]

sometimes flocks of robins remain in Michigan in the swamps

[copperkid3]

Originally Posted by tinknal

Some robins are nonmigratory, they stick around all winter. There is an article in today's Minneapolis startribune on this very subject, I'll look for a link.

* *'*'*'* * *'* * *'*'* *
bluebirds as well. Seems they survive by piling into nestboxes in groups

and share the body heat and manage to find enough dried berries for food.

Another sure-sign of spring, is the return of the sandhills.

Thought I heard a couple of them "crunkling"

last evening and then this morning, a pair flew

overhead at 75 feet and going due north.

I waved and I swear, they tipped their

heads in acknowledgment! Welcome back.

[uncle Will in In.]

We had 14 sand hill cranes go over yesterday. They will stop off for three or four days and move on north. We have gaggles of wild geese any day of the year. We have a 20 acre lake, and they are around here any day they can get a drink of water. When the open water freezes over completley they will go about ten miles to the Wabash river until it starts to thaw a little. Then they come back and walk around on the lakes looking for a-wet spot.
We have seen a couple robins this last week but never any big flocks.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by copperkid3

* *'*'*'* * *'* * *'*'* *
bluebirds as well. Seems they survive by piling into nestboxes in groups

and share the body heat and manage to find enough dried berries for food.

Another sure-sign of spring, is the return of the sandhills.

Thought I heard a couple of them "crunkling"

last evening and then this morning, a pair flew

overhead at 75 feet and going due north.

I waved and I swear, they tipped their

heads in acknowledgment! Welcome back.

"Crunkling" LOL, excellent description of their sound!

[7thswan]

We are in the thumb. Dh had a pair of Sandhills fly over when he was out ice fishing.