I don't get it... Robins are back, but the weather is brutal!

Discussion in 'Wildlife in the Garden' started by Beeker, Jan 29, 2022.

  1. Beeker

    Beeker In Flower

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2009
    Messages:
    553
    Likes Received:
    366
    Location:
    New England, USA
    Can somebody help me read Robins?
    I always thought that seeing a bunch of robins means that spring is near, but the past couple of seasons, they have arrived about a week before single digit temperatures and a big snowstorm. This year is no different.
    Last week I was so excited to see over a dozen robins picking at the small fruit on the crab-apple trees and flying off to the forest nearby. Just a couple of days later the temperatures dropped into the twenties for high temperatures and single digits at night with windchills below zero. Today, we have a big snowstorm and near-blizzard conditions.
    What gives?
     
    Logan and Sjoerd like this.
  2. Loading...


  3. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2010
    Messages:
    11,382
    Likes Received:
    13,392
    Location:
    Central Texas, zone 8
    Unfortunately, the birds don't read the birding books, and don't follow the rules. This year has been so strange with weather shifts and patterns that migratory routes and bird behavior has been affected.
    What gives? We'll just have to wait and see. Meanwhile, make sure there is food for the birds, and with the nearby forest, they will have shelter. If you can provide water (not frozen!) that would help also.
     
    Beeker, Sjoerd and Logan like this.
  4. mart

    mart Strong Ash

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    Messages:
    5,582
    Likes Received:
    4,139
    Location:
    NE Texas
    My flock has been about average with nite time temps in the 20`s and day time in the 60`s ! Take care in New England with the blizzard ! Stay in and stay warm !!
     
    Beeker, Sjoerd, Logan and 1 other person like this.
  5. Logan

    Logan Strong Ash

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,039
    Likes Received:
    7,345
    Location:
    Redditch Worcestershire UK
    We always have robins here but they make themselves known this time of the year and birds pair up at this time.
     
    Sjoerd likes this.
  6. Beeker

    Beeker In Flower

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2009
    Messages:
    553
    Likes Received:
    366
    Location:
    New England, USA
    Interesting.
    I guess since last month was so mild, and the thaw should be coming soon, maybe they've been around but were only out getting food to prepare for the coming storm. I can speculate all I want, but I'm still not going to know. Oh well. If only Dr. Doolittle were around to ask them for me...
    If it were so simple that various creatures could foretell the way seasons were going to play out, we wouldn't have the gardener's motto "there's always next year."
     
    marlingardener and Logan like this.

Share This Page