This topic contains 19 replies, has 12 voices, and was last updated by 
sandlanders 15 years, 10 months ago.
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OK, this is kinda of off topic, but who else has noticed that the Turdus migratorius, (American Robin) our state bird is still hanging around in the bushes and trees. ❓
Seems kinda unusual to me to see them about especially with all the snow and sub-zero temps we have been having. ❗
So, if anyone has an educated idea (Trekkin’ and Birdin’) please enlighten 💡 us.
We are use to doing the feeders and suet cakes for birds who winter over, but this seems peculiar to still see robins at this time of the season.
What are they waiting for?
When I finally get myself together…..
I’m going to get down in that sunny southern weather
CSN&YThanks in advance.
SGH & BB
Yeah I was a little confused when I saw a whole bunch of them in a tree here at Stout.
OK, this might be off topic, but are Turdus and Craphas synonyms? 😕
I have seen robins in the cold of winter. Sometimes 1, sometimes several. I think if they are assured of a natural food source, a few will stay in the area. But it definitely is a surprise to see one in a deep, snowy December!
While I don’t have the expertise of Birdin’ and others, my knowledge of robins is that they don’t need to fly south for warmth or food. If there is food supply here, they might stick around. Same with the Canada geese that stay all winter below the dams or where there are aerated ponds and lakes.
A few winters ago, we spotted robins eating the fruit off our flowering crabapple tree in December and January. We seemed to have one particular bird who visited daily, even with subzero temps. Haven’t seen any in the past few winters, but the fruit crop hasn’t been present either.
Quite often we have seen reports on the Madison TV stations about people seeing robins in the arboretum all winter, and they usually say the same thing about if there’s food supply, the robins will stick around. Sometimes when we’ve had a late winter/early spring snow after the robins have arrived, we have thrown out some raisins for them to eat, but they didn’t really need that.
Yes, there’s always a number of robins that stick around. Their main food is worms and insects however, just like anything else when food is scarce, they will be forced to eat something else. My guess is that right now there could still be open springs and other soggy areas harboring some goodies for them, and they are supplementing their diet with fruit and maybe some seeds.
Maybe they got the global warming memo and decided why travel…
TE@zoesbrother wrote:
Yeah I was a little confused when I saw a whole bunch of them in a tree here at Stout.
ZB thanks for the update from your part of the state.
I’d be interested in other reports from the UpNort area too.Best to you on your finals!
SGH & BB
Saw a robin today, while finding the 7 new caches in Menasha.
@jimandlinda wrote:
Saw a robin today, while finding the 7 new caches in Menasha.
Jim thanks for that report.
Any down by Fondy ?
Robins that is.
Also, I am still hopiing to get some more sighting reports from other areas so I can update the map. 💡
Thanks again
SGH & BB
I don’t think these Robins are hanging around on purpose. When you see a Robin still here in winter you know that’s one of those minority Magellan users. The Garmin Robins are feasting on juicy worms well south of here. 😯
@One Paddle Short wrote:
I don’t think these Robins are hanging around on purpose. When you see a Robin still here in winter you know that’s one of those minority Magellan users. The Garmin Robins are feasting on juicy worms well south of here. 😯
So, what you are saying is the Magellan Robins can still find worms here in winter while the Garmin Robins need to move South 😉
Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.
It’s really not that unusual to see Robins in winter. The following link has some interesting information.
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/robin/FAQSWintering.html#1You could also check the data from Audubon Christmas Bird Counts, Project Feeder Watch, or ebird.org – thanks
@grandpa_r wrote:
It’s really not that unusual to see Robins in winter. The following link has some interesting information.
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/robin/FAQSWintering.html#1You could also check the data from Audubon Christmas Bird Counts, Project Feeder Watch, or ebird.org – thanks
Excellent information there grandpa_r thanks much for the Ornithology tidbit. Good to know and always something new to learn. 😀
I’ll will keep watch to see what happens when what little open water there is freezes up. Then will the robins still winter over?
Thanks again for the report.
SGH & BB
Sorry I didn’t see this before. It’s correct…..some Robins don’t bother traveling much. Open water and trees with berries remaining are how they survive. They can also find bugs under the bark. apparently. The Christmas Bird Counts here in LaCrosse show an interesting pattern. One year, Robins in the hundreds, the next a much smaller number, alternating back and forth over at least a decade.
This was an “off” year. The large Catholic Cemetery alongside Granddad Bluff is a pretty reliable spot to find them in winter. I counted over 300 the year I had that on my count area. We spotted a small flock near one of labrat’s Wild Side caches a couple weeks ago, too.
@Trekkin’ and Birdin’ wrote:
It’s correct…..some Robins don’t bother traveling much. Open water and trees with berries remaining are how they survive. T.
Went on a hike with about 20 robins earlier this week, near Poynette. The trail went through hardwoods, along a lake, with lots of berries.
(we also saw a lot of singing Snow Buntings NW of there .. cute! Guess they came down to keep the robins company……… http://seagrant.wisc.edu/birds/snow_bunting_intro.html )
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