Robin mystery

Old 10-03-2011, 06:41 AM
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I noticed about 4 weeks ago that the Robins are gone, migrated away. I usually have quite a few Robins in my immediate area - each holding their own few yards as their territory. I even asked friends at work if they've seen any Robins. Nope. Not a single Robin sighting for several weeks by anyone.

Last night hubby and I went for a walk around the neighborhood and lo and behold at one house ... SEVEN Robins in their tiny front lawn!!

What the heck?? Not a single Robin sighting for weeks by several people then all of a sudden two blocks from house there is a small flock - all within a few feet of each other which is odd as well because Robins are so territorial.

We had a cicada "bloom" this year, not a major one. Now that I think of it, the Robins were gone BEFORE the Cicada's came. I wonder if that has something to do with it - perhaps there were not "enough" Cicada's at my house so they went somewhere else to enjoy the feast.

I'm really kind of stumped.
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Old 10-03-2011, 07:03 AM
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Update. I just read up a bit on their migration habits and found that some Robin's will indeed overwinter in the Northern Climes, and if they do they switch to a fruit diet. They will also "flock" together and are less territorial.

I personally have never seen a Robin "overwinter" up here. I'm going to have to that house again and see if he's got something special growing that is keeping a small flock of Robins in my town!!
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Old 10-03-2011, 07:11 AM
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When it gets dry they move to the forests. After allot of rain you'll see a few back in town. Some do winter over.

One year my husband was deer hunting in late November early December & got surrounded by a whole flock of them in the woods.

If they overwinter they switch their diet to seeds & berries.
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Old 10-03-2011, 07:19 AM
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yes the robins from Canada migrate down here to Maine. The same is true of chickadees and other winter birds. There are enough berries left on the wild roses and autumn olives to keep them happy for winter. Altho along about Feb, after deep snows, I used to put out currents after I soaked them in water to plump them up.

And fresh warm water so it won't freeze too quickly
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Old 10-03-2011, 07:28 AM
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I'm in Washington state, and we have robins AND hummingbirds here year-round. Seems like the only things that migrate around here are geese - and they are always flying east or west when I see them!
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Old 10-03-2011, 08:00 AM
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I looked outside the other day and there were over 20 robins in my yard. Wish I knew what they were all doing...
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Old 10-03-2011, 08:05 AM
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Sometimes I have Robins in the winter.
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Old 10-03-2011, 08:07 AM
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Many used to overwinter in Victoria BC, Canada and it was fun to watch them eat the fermented apples in the side yard! Luckily no big dogs or cats around because they couldn't get off the ground!
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Old 10-03-2011, 08:18 AM
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I am in NE Ohio. Robins winter over in the woods behind my house and come to my yard all fall/winter and early spring for the left over fruit and nuts I grow. I always leave some in the yard for them. It's a really perk-up on a drab winter day to see robins, cardinals, blue jays and juncos in the trees and shrubs.
Another way to entice them to come out in the winter is to supply fresh warm water. There are water warmers sold just for that purpose.
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Old 10-03-2011, 08:40 AM
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our robins have been gone for a long time.....but the Canadian Geese don't seem to know if they are coming or going.....we stood outside yesterday and watched flocks of them fly one way, then a few minutes later, a flock (maybe the same one) would fly the other way !!Can't make up their mind!!
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