It used to be that you could count on the robin as a sure sign of spring. But it seems lately that they have been sticking around for the colder months as well. Rosemary explains what may be influencing their choice to stay.
Welcome to this week's edition of Something Wild. I'm Rosemary Conroy for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
Seen any robins lately? It's not that uncommon in winter anymore. Although we tend to think of this red-breasted bird as a harbinger of spring, many do, in fact, roam the northeast year-round.
Ornithologists believe these ubiquitous birds are not migrating as far south as they used to. The reason? Well, nothing has been proven, but it could be global climate change leading to milder winters.
Or, increasing suburbanization could be inadvertantly providing more food through the planting of more ornamental shrubs and trees. I saw several large flocks of robins in December, feasting on the abundant supplies of winterberry holly that brightened our swamps this year.
Robins, like their close cousin the bluebird, rely on fruits and berries to survive, so a good wild berry year like this past one may also convince fruit-loving birds to linger.
Of course, this can backfire when the weather suddenly changes for the worse. Many kind-hearted bird lovers help out snowed-in robins and bluebirds by offering raisins, apple slices and frozen berries alongside their regular birdseed. I have one neighbor who has attracted bluebirds to her tube feeders by filling them with shelled sunflower seeds. There's certainly nothing more cheerful than seeing this bright blue bird outside your window on a grey winter morning.
Other folks even special order mealworms to help out their favorite feathered friends. This may work better in warmer weather, when birds are more interested in insects, but you never know!
Robins are certainly one of the most adaptable and therefore successful birds around, so when I see robins in winter, I tend not to worry - they must know what they are doing, or there wouldn't be one hopping across every lawn come spring!
Something Wild is a joint production of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, NHPR and the Audubon Society of New Hampshire. For Something Wild, I'm Rosemary Conroy.
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