Robins are the gateway drug of the birding world, meaning they are often one of the first birds that suck people into devoting years of their lives to watching, lifelisting, and loving our avian companions.
I lived in southern Minnesota for about 12 years. One of our local, nearly urban, state parks had a seep that stayed ice-free all year and almost invariably hosted a robin or two. I always enjoyed finding them there in the dead of winter.
Thank you for kind appreciation of our "background" bird, the ones who are always there and are really so charming. How many times have we birders said, "oh, it's just a robin" and then we chuckle.
Carolyn, Thanks for your note. Sort of like when birders say "The Youzhh (not sure how to spell the shortened form of usual?)," when asked about what are you seeing. David
well, there are robins -- and robins! A true colonial history -- if you search around you'll see that wherever the British went over the centuries, it appears that wherever there was a bird that had a reddish chest/belly and a darker back was named a robin-- no matter what the actual species was!! Wanted to paste in the UK/europe one - just photographed in Cambridge, viewing wildlife in back garden. whoops, can paid-only subscribers attach snaps? I get your notices regularly and love them, but must not have subscribed. Help! UK robin species: Erithacus rubecula, Australia has 49 "robins" of several different genus and species IDs. Nice description in Australian Geographic- just google. thanks to David from here in North Vancouver for your great postings!
Robins, fat and juicy? Not words I would ever use to describe them. Small and full of bones, like a Cornish game hen only more so. Guess you have to be really hungry?
I really enjoyed your Robin article, especially your last comment, ignorance of the common. When I'm out birding with beginners, I always point out that if Robins were rare, we'd really appreciate their very good looks and interesting habits a lot more, and they all agree and look at the Robins in a more engaging manner.
You do know that the Romans didn't see our Robins, right? Their turdus were likely European Blackbirds.
They are also amazing architects and builders. A robins nest, being soft and fluffy on the inside, packed with soft, moist dirt in the middle and sticks twigs and what not on the outside is incredibly sturdy.
I rejoice every spring when I see robins return in large numbers and feast on last year’s sumac berries. Of course, there are small groups of them that stay here all winter in Toronto, and I love to spot their red bellies against the bright white snow. Plus, when you gaze upon an “ordinary” robin through binoculars you can’t help but marvel at their distinctive patterns, colours and textures.
I couldn't help but notice that Audubon put his robins in an American Chestnut tree. Most people today have never seen one, but they were a mainstay of Eastern forests and the national economy. My brother has a tree, and I hope to bring a few nuts to California some time for someone to plant.
I know early ornithologists, Audubon among them, shot lots of birds to collect them. I think the last surviving Ivory Bill was shot, or was that the last passenger pigeon? First I've heard of eating robins. I'm so used to robins on grass lawns and nesting in the eaves of houses that seeing a lone bird deep in the Olympic Mountain forests always seems like they might be lost.
My previous home had a large holly bush. In late winter/early spring each year the Robins would descend upon it to eat all the berries. It was always funny to see the whirlwind of activity that ensued, and lasted until all the berries were gone (which didn't take that long!)
On watching what is around you - I have two stands of hollow-stem Joe Pye Weed that are doing quite well this year. (One I planted on purpose, the other some birds must have planted for me.) They recently flowered and I amazed at the number of insects they attract -lots of bumblebees, but also many different smaller insects as well. I need to get out with my camera to try to capture & identify some of the multitude of species.
too bad about the pictures! not that you want to be overwhelmed by great photos and horrible cutesy titles - i belong to one of those groups and it is truly painful. best- ms
I'm going crazy with this - I wrote another note, when you said you didn't know about this, but I don't know if it went!!! and want to know if I have to be a subscriber to post pics in response - help!
I am not sure I have seen it. I don't think you can post pics no matter whether you are a subscriber or not. Sorry about that. You can always email me directly. There's a link on my website: www.geologywriter.com
I tell a little story that while at Swedish my mother she saw a Robin in the window. Then she named me Robin.
Actually I have no idea where she got my name but have made the most of being Rocking Robin
I lived in southern Minnesota for about 12 years. One of our local, nearly urban, state parks had a seep that stayed ice-free all year and almost invariably hosted a robin or two. I always enjoyed finding them there in the dead of winter.
Excellent post and so much of what you write would also apply to the European Robin though it's not that closely related to the American Robin.
Thank you for kind appreciation of our "background" bird, the ones who are always there and are really so charming. How many times have we birders said, "oh, it's just a robin" and then we chuckle.
Carolyn, Thanks for your note. Sort of like when birders say "The Youzhh (not sure how to spell the shortened form of usual?)," when asked about what are you seeing. David
well, there are robins -- and robins! A true colonial history -- if you search around you'll see that wherever the British went over the centuries, it appears that wherever there was a bird that had a reddish chest/belly and a darker back was named a robin-- no matter what the actual species was!! Wanted to paste in the UK/europe one - just photographed in Cambridge, viewing wildlife in back garden. whoops, can paid-only subscribers attach snaps? I get your notices regularly and love them, but must not have subscribed. Help! UK robin species: Erithacus rubecula, Australia has 49 "robins" of several different genus and species IDs. Nice description in Australian Geographic- just google. thanks to David from here in North Vancouver for your great postings!
Wow. I did not know of any of this. Thanks for sharing.
Robins, fat and juicy? Not words I would ever use to describe them. Small and full of bones, like a Cornish game hen only more so. Guess you have to be really hungry?
Good point but it seems that Mr. Audubon would know given how many birds he shot though I have no clue how many he ate?
I really enjoyed your Robin article, especially your last comment, ignorance of the common. When I'm out birding with beginners, I always point out that if Robins were rare, we'd really appreciate their very good looks and interesting habits a lot more, and they all agree and look at the Robins in a more engaging manner.
You do know that the Romans didn't see our Robins, right? Their turdus were likely European Blackbirds.
Diane, Thanks for the clarification on what the Romans saw. I should have pointed that out.
David
They are also amazing architects and builders. A robins nest, being soft and fluffy on the inside, packed with soft, moist dirt in the middle and sticks twigs and what not on the outside is incredibly sturdy.
What a great piece !! thank you
I rejoice every spring when I see robins return in large numbers and feast on last year’s sumac berries. Of course, there are small groups of them that stay here all winter in Toronto, and I love to spot their red bellies against the bright white snow. Plus, when you gaze upon an “ordinary” robin through binoculars you can’t help but marvel at their distinctive patterns, colours and textures.
I couldn't help but notice that Audubon put his robins in an American Chestnut tree. Most people today have never seen one, but they were a mainstay of Eastern forests and the national economy. My brother has a tree, and I hope to bring a few nuts to California some time for someone to plant.
Good point about the American Chestnut. Thanks for sharing.
David
I know early ornithologists, Audubon among them, shot lots of birds to collect them. I think the last surviving Ivory Bill was shot, or was that the last passenger pigeon? First I've heard of eating robins. I'm so used to robins on grass lawns and nesting in the eaves of houses that seeing a lone bird deep in the Olympic Mountain forests always seems like they might be lost.
Yeah, they seemed to shoot everything they could. A different era and a different way of encountering nature. Now we just shoot them with cameras.
Good reminder: ignorance of the common
My previous home had a large holly bush. In late winter/early spring each year the Robins would descend upon it to eat all the berries. It was always funny to see the whirlwind of activity that ensued, and lasted until all the berries were gone (which didn't take that long!)
On watching what is around you - I have two stands of hollow-stem Joe Pye Weed that are doing quite well this year. (One I planted on purpose, the other some birds must have planted for me.) They recently flowered and I amazed at the number of insects they attract -lots of bumblebees, but also many different smaller insects as well. I need to get out with my camera to try to capture & identify some of the multitude of species.
too bad about the pictures! not that you want to be overwhelmed by great photos and horrible cutesy titles - i belong to one of those groups and it is truly painful. best- ms
I'm going crazy with this - I wrote another note, when you said you didn't know about this, but I don't know if it went!!! and want to know if I have to be a subscriber to post pics in response - help!
I am not sure I have seen it. I don't think you can post pics no matter whether you are a subscriber or not. Sorry about that. You can always email me directly. There's a link on my website: www.geologywriter.com