Yesterday afternoon, here in western West Palm Beach, Florida, I opened the back door to hear the air filled with the busy flutings of birdsong -- the migrating robins were here!!!
We only see robins here in the early months of the year, when they are on their way back to their homes in the north. This is the time that the berries are red & ripe on the trees they love the most, the Florida Holly (also called Brazillian Pepper). These are really nasty invasive exotic plants here, but once a year I love them because they attract the flocks of robins to them.
There were hundreds of robins flying around & going from branch to branch of these thick tall trees, feasting on the berries and piping their songs. The native blue jays & mockingbirds were also busy scolding them and trying to shoo them away from their home territories.
During some years I will see more robins across a longer period of time, for several days or more, and at different times of the day. Last year I remember that they came at the end of January, and stayed for a few days. Perhaps this year they are migrating later because it's been so cold up north. Perhaps that's why they didn't stay for very long either. I called my boys outside to see these special birds, and after about 10 minutes the robins all flew away together. And I didn't see any more this morning when I went out to open the chicken coops.
I always think of my Mom when I see the robins. She grew up in the far northeast tip of Minnesota, and loved these birds. There in Ely everyone looked forward to seeing the first robin of spring, and would phone the local newspaper to tell about it. The paper would print this happy news, and everyone would be glad to know that better weather was sure to come soon. She was never reconciled to living in South Florida (Miami) and one of the things she missed was seeing robins. In the yard where I grew up was a big Florida Holly tree that would be visited by a flock of migrating robins just once a year. Mom looked forward to their yearly visits, and taught her children to appreciate them as well.
So good news, those of you in the frozen north! The robins are winging their way back to you, Springtime is sure to come soon!
We only see robins here in the early months of the year, when they are on their way back to their homes in the north. This is the time that the berries are red & ripe on the trees they love the most, the Florida Holly (also called Brazillian Pepper). These are really nasty invasive exotic plants here, but once a year I love them because they attract the flocks of robins to them.
There were hundreds of robins flying around & going from branch to branch of these thick tall trees, feasting on the berries and piping their songs. The native blue jays & mockingbirds were also busy scolding them and trying to shoo them away from their home territories.
During some years I will see more robins across a longer period of time, for several days or more, and at different times of the day. Last year I remember that they came at the end of January, and stayed for a few days. Perhaps this year they are migrating later because it's been so cold up north. Perhaps that's why they didn't stay for very long either. I called my boys outside to see these special birds, and after about 10 minutes the robins all flew away together. And I didn't see any more this morning when I went out to open the chicken coops.
I always think of my Mom when I see the robins. She grew up in the far northeast tip of Minnesota, and loved these birds. There in Ely everyone looked forward to seeing the first robin of spring, and would phone the local newspaper to tell about it. The paper would print this happy news, and everyone would be glad to know that better weather was sure to come soon. She was never reconciled to living in South Florida (Miami) and one of the things she missed was seeing robins. In the yard where I grew up was a big Florida Holly tree that would be visited by a flock of migrating robins just once a year. Mom looked forward to their yearly visits, and taught her children to appreciate them as well.
So good news, those of you in the frozen north! The robins are winging their way back to you, Springtime is sure to come soon!
