Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Robin Discontent In The Garden...

It was certainly not unreasonable for the robins to show up this week; temperatures are supposed to be in the forties this time of year, and some nice patches of green grass normally ought to be showing. However, this year we have two feet of snow still on the ground, with temperatures predicted to be well below zero Friday night (thirty degrees below normal).
The robins' reaction to all of this seemed at first to be utter disbelief, turning into a complete, dejected sulk. They perch about in the trees, hunched up and shivering, glowering at everything and everybody. Now, you'd think they could just fly back south a few miles, where the snow ends, but I guess their navigation systems don't allow for two migrations in a year. The alternative explanation of course is that robins are rather dim bulbs; an opinion which I've held for years. Robins are colorful, an icon of spring, and normally the cheeriest of birds... however they are not the Einsteins of the bird world.
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Comments:
Same here....the robins arrived and frankly, they look a little bewildered. We're filling feeders daily but the poor things are trying to build nests on our front porch.

And the glacial ice here has closed roads in our country neighborhood....strange year. Am concerned we'll have one day of Spring and then pfftt, a hot summer.

Catherine
NW Illinois
 
"robins are rather dim bulbs; an opinion which I've held for years. Robins are colorful, an icon of spring, and normally the cheeriest of birds... however they are not the Einsteins of the bird world."

I had to laugh at that. It sounded like you were describing how I feel about myself sometimes. I think I'm aptly named.
 
Okay Don, I'll bite - which birds are the Einsteins of the bird world? Something like a crow?

I've only seen robins once in the 8+ years we've been in Texas and sure hope one of those cheery dim bulbs shows up to eat the Burford holly berries. They won't freeze their feathers off here.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose
 
No robins here yet. But I've notted the white breasted nuthatches are checking out downy woodpecker holes for places to nest. And I've seen a few blackbirds around. The herrons at the rookery have started fixing thier nests. Soon. Spring will be here soon.
 
Catherine... sounds like you're still in winter like us.

Robin... oh gee, nothing personal, you know, though years ago I briefly dated a gal named Robin, and she was so cute, but she was probably as gullible a gal as I've ever met.Tough name to live up to: everybody expects you to always be cheerful.

Annie... Yah, crows... blue jays are pretty sharp, too.
Don
 
Nickie... I hope you're right about spring; here they are predicting cold and snow for the next two weeks... it looks like it will be April before it even thaws.
Don
 
I always thought the Robins followed the advancing snowline. Thanks for enlightening me. I haven't seen any yet here in Chicagoland.
 
The robins prudently read the weather reports from you gardeners in the Northern US and decided they'd be smart not to come here yet. We see the occasional robin early, but I figure they've either overwintered here or got blown offcourse by the jetstream.
And yes, share...the Einsteins would be the crows and ravens, yes? I love them (we feed a few crows among the piles of winter visitors.)
 
aw, poor babies!
 
Your writing and pictures are just beautiful.....Has it ever occured to you that you could write a wonderful gardening book about your neck of the woods (and mine, Missouri)........the pictures alone would sell the book! I take such pleasure in reading and looking at your blog..particularly as the winter goes on and on!
 
MMD... we often get them here in the snow, but usually it melts shortly; not this year!

Jodi... the crows and ravens are scary smart.

lintys... I did see one of the robins at our suet feeder, so maybe it will keep them going.

Anony... Thanks for your nice comments; I have vaguely thought about writing a book (as has every gardener), but that would be WORK to do it right, and I just have too many irons in the fire already. Someday???

Don
 
I've seen one poor, sad-looking specimen of a robin here lately. Although, a friend said he saw a "crowd" of them over the weekend. Now, that's pitiful.

I also believe they're a little slow on the uptake when it comes to building nests. They never seem to find choice locations, but build them so they teeter on edges of gutter corners, deck frames, and low spots in pine trees (placing them in danger of cat-ravage).

I do so look forward to spotting them, but what else is there to say?
 
Shady... I DO like their singing; they are so enthusiastic you sometimes think they are going to fall out of the tree.
Don
 
Poor Robins. Maybe next year their timing will be right!
 
Vanillalotus... We CAN'T have another March like this.
Don
 
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