February 12, 2016
Robins can do well in the Tri-Cities during winter
When we receive an email with a question about any sort of nature-related phenomenon, I usually think something along the lines of, “Yippee! Someone’s paying attention to something besides their tablet, smart phone or television.” I write a response and life goes on.
When we receive multiple emails, as well as phone calls, asking that same question, I start compiling thoughts in preparation for a future Good Natured column.
But when that same query appears in the Chronicle’s Sound Off column, AND in a letter to the editor, all while emails and phone calls continue to come in… Well, believe you me, I do not pass Go, I do not collect $200, I head directly for the laptop and start typing furiously on the topic of…
American robins!
There’s no doubt these feathered friends, known also as Turdus migratorius (one of the all-time great Latin names), are enjoying a fair share of success right now. And, as is so often the case in suburbia, we humans more than a little responsible.
For one thing, through the steps we take to make ourselves comfortable, we also make things easier for them. We’ve built structures that offer sheltered and predator-proof nesting locations. How many of you have had robins build nests on your porch pillars or outside light fixtures?
It’s no different at Hickory Knolls. Each year an early-bird robin gets–not only the worms–but also the prime location atop the light by our front door. Tucked up in a corner, the space is out of the wind and also protected from precipitation.
Robins also nest on the steel supports beneath our solar panels and have attempted, though not succeeded in, building on the aluminum frames of our expansive windows. Even though we have plenty of trees, these man-made locations seem preferred.
Keep in mind that these ideal nesting spots are generally used not once but twice. Despite what today’s weather may feel like, we live in a temperate climate that affords robins a chance to raise at least two broods each year. Even if one nest attempt is a complete failure, there’s generally time to regroup and try, try again.
A look at Kane County’s Audubon’s Spring Bird Count data confirms that robins are doing very well in our area. So well, in fact, that they rank third in terms of total individuals seen over the survey’s 44-year history. (Coming in at No. 2 is the common grackle and No. 1 is the red-winged blackbird, a species we’ll be taking a closer look at next week.)
By now you’re probably thinking, “Okay Otto, we get it. Robins are doing well. But why are we seeing so many in winter? Don’t they migrate? Isn’t their return a sign of spring??”
Well, alrighty then, let’s dig a little bit further into what makes robins tick. Besides shelter, they also need food. And there again, humans have gone above and beyond.
Our preference for landscaping with trees and shrub that produce flowers, and therefore fruits, has created a year-round source of food for T. migratorius. True, the image of a robin pulling a worm from the ground is about as iconic as a nature photo can get. But in reality robins consume a diverse diet that varies with season and availability.
I’d wager that all of you who have been seeing robins this winter have seen them in or near fruit-bearing plantings. Crabapple trees. Hawthornes. Bittersweet. Sumac. Honeysuckle. Roses, with their vitamin C-laden hips. All are readily available in our area and consumed with gusto.
To wash down these delicacies, as well as keep their feathers in peak condition, robins need a source of water. Once again, we humans have come through on both large and small scales. We’ve built dams that keep water open and flowing on their downstream sides, and we’ve placed heaters in our birdbaths. Check! Another vital requirement met.
A few other things to keep in mind as you observe robins amid the snow and cold:
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Migration is taxing on birds of all species. Wear and tear on muscles and feathers can be substantial. Robins, being hardy and opportunistic, can avoid the stress of migration by flying only as far as necessary to find food, water and shelter.
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Robins form flocks when not in breeding mode. Birds in a group have a better chance of finding food and detecting predators than do individuals going it alone.
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As casual observers, we have no way of knowing for sure whether our winter robins are year-round residents, or visitors from farther north. Chances are, we’re seeing a little bit of both.
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Even though we still experience some periods of extreme cold, our recent winters have generally been mild. Warmer temperatures improve winter survival rates.
I know, it’s hard to give up the idea that robins signal that spring has arrived. If you’re a diehard robin fan, and I know there are a lot of you out there, all you need to do is modify your technique just a bit. Instead of using only your eyes to spot robins, use your ears too, to listen to their sounds. If all you hear is cheeps and chatters, you’re observing standard flock communication denoting that the birds are still in winter mode. But if you see an individual by himself, and he’s belting out a hearty “Cheery-up, cheerio,” you’ll know you’ve found a bird that’s declaring his territory. He’s getting ready for the coming breeding season–a time of year you and I call spring.
Pam Otto is the manager of nature programs and interpretive services at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, a facility of the St. Charles Park District. She can be reached at 630-639-7960 or potto@stcparks.org.
Even though they’re considered a sign of spring, robins can be seen year-round in many parts of Kane County. Plentiful food, in the form of fruit on ornamental as well as native plants, is one reason for their success.