Robin invasion

[LVSteve]

I have a light out back with a dawn/dusk sensor that doesn't really work, so in the winter I have to switch it off manually. Went to do it today and got scolded by a robin in a tree. Nothing unusual there, we have them 24/7/365. Turned off the light, had a look around, spotted another robin on the ground, got dive bombed by a hummingbird, then came back inside. That's all normal, I thought.

Couple of minutes later I stepped into the kitchen and glanced out back. There were six (maybe more) robins on the birdbath, jostling for space. There was a lot of coming and going from around the yard, so an accurate count was impossible. Most seemed to want to just drink, but there's always one who wants to dunk and think the whole thing is his. I am going to assume that this group has blown in with the mild weather that hit earlier this week. I just hope they don't mind that the forecast has the temps back to down normal by the weekend.

 

[Rotorhead1026]

I have a light out back with a dawn/dusk sensor that doesn't really work, so in the winter I have to switch it off manually. Went to do it today and got scolded by a robin in a tree. Nothing unusual there, we have them 24/7/365. Turned off the light, had a look around, spotted another robin on the ground, got dive bombed by a hummingbird, then came back inside. That's all normal, I thought.

Couple of minutes later I stepped into the kitchen and glanced out back. There were six (maybe more) robins on the birdbath, jostling for space. There was a lot of coming and going from around the yard, so an accurate count was impossible. Most seemed to want to just drink, but there's always one who wants to dunk and think the whole thing is his. I am going to assume that this group has blown in with the mild weather that hit earlier this week. I just hope they don't mind that the forecast has the temps back to down normal by the weekend.

Alfred Hitchcock may be involved. Be careful.

 

[Kinman]

My wife claimed to have seen a robin on her walk yesterday. I know years ago we had an old boy that would hang around through the winter, he'd learned all the warm places to shack up and where every Mountain Ash tree was to keep himself fed through the winter. I got a laugh out of watching him while a flock of Cedar Waxwings stopped to fuel up on their way South. I called him "Mr. Grey Britches" because the feathers on his legs had gone grey and marked him among the younger birds. He grabbed my attention late one year when everything else had fled, here he was in my Mt. Ash trees, the berries had been hit with a frost and started fermenting on the tree, I watched him fall out of the tree a couple times, our friendship developed. It was funny watching him grumble while his trees were raided nearly ever year by the Waxwings. I didn't know but a Robin can live past twelve years with normal lifespan around two to three. I've had Peregrin falcons take up winter residence in the area, you'll find a puff of feathers and a drop of blood or two where they made their take. Great Horned owls are another treat, folks wonder where their young cat has gotten off to.

 

[SMSgt]

I wish I could figure out how to post pictures on this forum, but a few robins are nothing compared to a hundred Black-Bellied Whistler ducks demanding dinner in the backyard.

 

[lihpster]

Great Horned owls are another treat, folks wonder where their young cat has gotten off to.

When I was a kid, my dad rehabbed a couple of Great Horned owl chicks. When they were ready, he just opened the cage door. They flew away, but they didn't go far. Good hunting there, so they stayed around.
Now our neighbor was a kind old man, who spent his days improving and maintaining his beautiful landscaping. In his back yard, and down the hill, he had a nice open, grassy area with a big stone cairn in the middle.
One day, my brothers were out running around and they saw the owl perched on top of the cairn, with the neighbor's cat pulling a stalk on it from behind. They immediately ran home and told my dad, "Mr. Harris's cat is sneaking up on the owl!" My father's response? "Don't worry about the owl."
A week later, Mr. Harris came over and asked if we had seen his cat. We just told him, "No. Not for about a week or so."

 

[kaaskop49]

LVSteve seems to have a thing about the local biosphere. I'm too occupied heading for a casino. Owls? Cats? Robins? Ducks? I'm still looking for 4 Aces! Been slow this year.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[SMSgt]

LVSteve seems to have a thing about the local biosphere. I'm too occupied heading for a casino. Owls? Cats? Robins? Ducks? I'm still looking for 4 Aces! Been slow this year.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

If I find a Rusty Nail, my night is complete.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Every now and then, I take some hot water out to the bird bath
and "Open it up" so they can get a drink or splash around.

I noticed last year that the Robins gathered at my patio down spout,
where there was a trickel of water coming out, for them to drink.

I have a "Weed eater" handy, if things freeze up solid.

 

[pasound]

Robins and sparrows are doing the early mating chase all over my neighborhood the past couple of days, as the freezing weather of the previous four weeks gave way to a week of warmer weather.

I was standing out behind my building today, and three robins were vying for the attention of a female. One male stopped along a wall next to the parking lot, looked at me and clucked and made other fussing noises saying that I was disturbing them.

 

[TLflag]

Birds

It's a little early for Robins out West, but we have had a milder weather this year. Be sure to think about a Towhee. Looks very much like a Robin, and is a very much look alike, and is here year round.

They were part of my job.

 

[LVSteve]

It's a little early for Robins out West, but we have had a milder weather this year. Be sure to think about a Towhee. Looks very much like a Robin, and is a very much look alike, and is here year round.

They were part of my job.

I've seen the odd Towhee in Vegas, but they are vastly outnumbered by robins. What I do seem to be short of is mockingbirds. I don't recall seeing one here for months.

I did have a large flock of small birds move through the neighborhood. Never got a good look at one, but they were making this high pitched "Peep!" to keep the flock together. I'm thinking some kind of chickadee.

 

[ameridaddy]

A couple dozen robins were here a few days ago, but were gone the next day. I guess they're scouts heading north.

 

[mtgianni]

My wife doesn't consider it spring until she sees a robin in the yard.

 

[Kinman]

My wife doesn't consider it spring until she sees a robin in the yard.

For me its the first whiff of skunk, mamas kick the kits out in preparation for finding a mate. Most often around here in March, its always a good sign for me.

 

[charlie sherrill]

The robins come here for winter about the same time the hummingbirds go south. In the spring it reverses, the hummers come back and the robins go north. A few robins will nest here, but not many.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

We throwed a gallon of sunflower seeds out in the yard today for the robins.

 

[bruce5781]

Very dark, rich, meat. Excellent chicken fried over wild rice.....or so I'm told.

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

 

[pasound]

Saw a Cooper's Hawk this afternoon on the roof of the garage behind my building. Crow-sized, dusky brown spotted body, white stripes on tail. Pretty bird. Must of had something caught and dropped on the garage roof. Usually they stay up high in the trees. Red Tails and small kestrels are the common raptors in my area, so this one must be a traveler.