The harbinger of spring seems to be a bird that doesn't fly south... always or any more?
Feb 28 th , 2022 About a month ago, a warm January day after a big snow – which was melting on the field, I saw a very large flock of robins. I think it was almost 50 full. I have seen robins in winter before, and one even clearly asked me for food after a freezing snow. But I have never seen so many. I just read ( on this blog ) that they are more nomadic than migratory - they follow the food, and they do flock up in winter for safety and to keep each other posted as to where the food is. We had 2 melts this January and apparently this is when worms and slugs can be found. The interesting thing is though, today I just saw a big male. He flew away and came back with 2 juvenile robins and guarded them as they drank from melted snow on our black deck. I snapped a few pictures before they flew away. I did not get close so as not to scare them off. February 28 th seems very early for this behavior. They are already nesting. According to the same blog post , if ...