For about two weeks, every morning on my way to school, I’ve wished for my camera. Robins, robins everywhere! I’m used to seeing the occasional robin hanging out on the ground eating worms, but there are thousands chirping in the trees on either side of the road. As I drive, they fly back and forth in successive bursts, looking as if they are weaving a transparent tapestry across an invisible loom. Perhaps, they are weaving spring. I couldn’t get a photo of their acrobatics. I tried, but I found it is hard to drive, even down a country lane, hanging out the window, looking through a camera lens. Oh, yes, I did. No, the children were not in the car. I was going slow.
On the ground, robins are endearing and friendly. In fact, I have to discourage worm dining in the garden bed next to me while I dig in the soil.
However, in the trees, they were unsettled as though being so close together stressed them out. Obviously, they are not apartment dwellers like the purple martins. They would land in a tree, only to fly off again in jittered anticipation.
The Audubon Society publishes a “fact” sheet on how to save migratory birds, which I first learned about through Michelle’s post on Garden Rant. According to the A.S., we just need to reduce the number of people on the planet, and migratory birds will make a quick comeback. Who wants to go first?
Someone should explain to these feisty little characters that there are fewer of them every year. Hey, wait a minute, maybe someone did. Does anyone remember The Birds? Eeek . . . .
Dee,
Nick and I had noticed the explosion of Robins in the area this year. We have been shocked at the incredible numbers of them. We’ve had to creep
along on the road to keep from hitting them. In fact, we did hit a few before we realized we HAD to slow down to keep from hitting them. I was wondering
if anyone else had noticed it. I’m so glad to see you write about them. The birds and wildlife are why we love living in northeast Edmond. I’m hoping the
Purple Martins will appreciate the 2 newly cleaned Martin houses this year and decide to stay instead of going down the road and around the corner. I talked
to them really pretty last spring, but noooo, they just had to tease me and keep on truckin. Every now and then we see the red fox in the neighborhood.
That is a real treat for me. I’m going to read some more of your blog (that word just still sounds funny to me.) Laurie
Laurie, I’ve been amazed at their behavior too. My Mom, this a.m., said one was acting crazy on her porch trying to get something. (Shrug?) Isn’t nature grand?~~Dee
Hi Dee, thank you so much for visiting my blog and for commenting on it. I’ m so glad to find new blog-friends in USA, because I’ m a very lazy old girl and my English is so bad. So I must try to learn it better rapidly!! I love this Robins, wonderful birds. And I find a lot of interesting posts in your blog.
Have a great week
Wurzerl, Germany
Wurzerl, I think your English is great; way better than my German. Thanks for the compliment. I’ll visit yours again soon.~~Dee
Last year we had a pair of robins in the garden for a few weeks – only time I’ve seen them since we came to TX in 1999 – I hope they haven’t already passed us by on their way to Oklahoma, Dee!
I’ve read that the English robin is the ‘real’ Robin Redbreast, and when the early colonists saw an American bird with similar coloring they called it Robin, too. The English squirrels look smaller and cuter in the photos, too.
Somehow a scene with robins just doesn’t sound scary – boat-tailed grackles would do it, however!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Annie, what interesting information about the English robin. I had no idea.~~Dee
I was just thinking that some of these birds may be ones that arrive here later on. We always have quite a few robins about, although not as many as are showing in your photographs.
It sounds as if it’s a bit nippy there … we’ve warmed up, but the snow doesn’t show many signs of melting yet.
Hi Kate, It’s warmer now, but we expect thunderstorms next week.~~Dee
We have lots of robins in the yard now, too.
There are more cardinals this year than ever. When we first moved to this house in 2000 we had two pairs that nested in the evergreen shrubs in front of the house. Now it seems like there are 6 or 8 pairs.
We have feeders, hang suet, keep the bird bath fresh, etc. But I suspect that another reason we have more birds now is that we no longer have a dog.
Spring soon, Martha in Muskogee
Hi Martha, you’re right. Spring is just around the corner. We should get rain next week.~~Dee
When I read your description of “thousands” of robins in the trees on both sides of the road, I immediately thought of the playground scene in “The Birds.” LOL (OK, I’m a sick, twisted puppy.) No robins here yet, but there are a lot more other birds around now. I expect the robins will be back in a week or so, although we never have thousands of them.
MMD, I must be a sick puppy too.~~Dee
I miss the robins. I don’t think we have them here. I have thought about that from time to time. But we do have Eastern bluebirds, which are quite beautiful. In Oklahoma, the robins were a part of life and springtime. Enjoy!
Brenda
Brenda, I think that’s sad. I would miss them so much. They mean springtime for me.~~Dee
This is kind of strange. I just had the same experience in California. Robins descended in droves. In all the many years I’ve lived in California, I’d never seen that before. They were around for about four days and at any given time my backyard had maybe thirty or forty. I wonder what’s up with robins?? Thanks for a lovely post, Dee!
Okay, Kathryn, I wonder what it all means? There must be a reason, but I’m not a bird person. Any bird people out there? Thank you for being so nice.~~Dee
Wow- the red bellies really stand out!
Valerie, yes they do next to all the dead grass. Thanks for stopping by.~~Dee
We saw a robin on our deck yesterday. It looked cold and hungry. We put out more seed. They are so cute.
Deb, I be they’re cold this morning. It’s 15 degrees outside. Brrr . . . . ~~Dee
Lovely, Dee. I also take photos while hanging out of the car. ;-> I love your line that they are weaving spring. Wonderful.
Frances at Faire Garden
Oh, good. I’m not the only one.~~Dee
Love Robins…. they are the herald of Spring!
Connie, yes they are, and ours are blowing the trumpets loudly.~~Dee
I’m starting to see more robins here too. I’ve never seen that many in one place.
Robin, I haven’t either. I’d like to know why there are so many. Also, there are more in the mornings than the afternoons.~~Dee
Great to see your robins, they are a lot larger than our native robins over here in the UK. Their chests are a very vivid shade of red. x
Louise, I didn’t realize robins in the UK are smaller. How nice it is to have an international gardening community.~~Dee
I will admit that I have never watched ‘The Birds’ all the way through. The first bird attack sent me running from the room and to this day if hubby tries to feed the seagulls at a fast food place I freak out! I love one, two, even many birds as long as they aren’t dive bombing me!
However, Robins are my fave bird! I started a robin collection (photos, statues, etc) when I was about 10. I even planned to name my first girl Robin until I married someone with the last name of Robbins. Robin Robbins just doesn’t make sense! LOL. Thanks for a snapshot of spring. I can’t wait for them to find they’re way back here!
CJ, I don’t like the movie either. I saw it as a small child, and it scared me to death. I love that you have a robin collection, and you married someone named Robbins. How cool is that?~~Dee
Yea, I remember The Birds. I have The Birds 2 on dvd. They are pretty.
Curtis, pretty wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. :-). ~~Dee