Robins in winter?

[Ann B]

Are robins no longer one of the first signs of spring or is spring early this year?!?!?!?  I saw a whole lot of robins in Toronto today (Jan. 29th, 2011). Weird!  Or is this normal now?

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[Reuven_M]

Pretty normal, they are still around in winter, they just are in flocks, so you usually won't see them unless you encounter one of the flocks

[newfoundlander61]

If foo sources are plentiful such as (berries) they will stick around in small groups. Lots of berries still on many trees this year.

[Axeman]

It was a few years ago that I noticed they stuck around....I find they hang out in the cedar bush a lot....you can't see them but you hear them...lots of them....kinda takes the migratorius outta the turdus.

[David Shilman]

Robins are no longer my first sign of spring.  A robin with a WORM is!

Welcome Ann, and nice pic!

[egret]

Normal

Yes, I saw a whole bunch
20
at Willowdale and Cummer area

in fact, I rang Frank about it

couldnt believe it
they were after berries
and moved on


Egret

[silverfoxx]

I posted under Toronto sightings yesterday and asked a similar question - but no replies yet. Do we just assume that due to warmer winters we are now seeing robins and song sparrows in the winter?
= = = = = =
"I spotted a small flock of 8 to 10 robins moving through the treetops in Taylor Creek Park today - followed by a few stragglers then another flock of a dozen or more. I probably saw about 30 within 5 minutes but I kept walking so I don't know if there were more. I've noticed posts indicating that robins are now common in the GTA in winter.

Does anyone know how recent this phenomenon is and what the explanation is?"

[angieinto]

We've been seeing them in the winter for a few years now, at least four, maybe more. But I do remember the the first time I saw them in the winter, I was kinda shocked.  :shock: Now, I'm surprised if I don't.

[David Shilman]

On a quick web search, the earliest archived records for a Toronto Christmas Bird Census I found was for 2001.  They saw 343 American Robins that year, so I don't think it's a very recent development.

2002 - 932
2003 - 354
2004 - 436

etc.

[Brian Bailey]

I don't think overwintering Robins are a recent phenomenon.   I don't really have anything to back up that opinion except that when I checked Clive Goodwin's "A Birdfinding Guide to the Toronto Region" (1988) he notes, "...wintering birds are regular, and sometimes fairly common in the Toronto ravines."  I think Robins are more conspicuous in mild winters when they venture out of the deep cover of the ravines and other wooded areas.

If you had access to the Christmas Bird Count data, I think you'd find the records go back a long way.  The numbers would probably dip in severe winters or when the berry crop was poor.

BB

[silverfoxx]

Thanks - very useful to get your opinions and experience's regarding robins in winter.
When my kids were little I used to draw a robin on the calendar on the first date that I spotted one and I remember it was always around March 6 to 9. Its clear now that other people have been seeing them in the winter for at least 10 years.

[Brian Bailey]

If you had access to the Christmas Bird Count data...
BB

I lied. :oops:   It is available on line through the Audubon site.  Robins have been seen every year on the Toronto count since 1959 with the exception of 1983 & 1984.  (Apparently there was no count in 1984.)  Numbers have definitely increased from generally single digits in the 50s & 60s to hundreds in recent years.  There is only one year with less than 100 since 1986 (99 in 1995).

BB

[Axeman]

WHEW...I gotta say...when I first noticed them a few years ago, I took it as an unmistakable sign of global warming....not that I don't believe...just...well...having actual evidence in front of my eyes is pretty scary.....shhh...don't point anything else out !

[BillSimpson]

Available food is obviously key to the survival of otherwise migratory birds, but it is interesting to ponder on how and why they end up staying:
1. Why don't they go south with rest and get some sunshine and easy food?
2. If they get left behind for various reasons (winds, age etc.), can't they still head off?
3. Do they hang around for a bit and then maybe give up and go south?
4. Is there some consistent proportion of birds that stays and then only some survive?
5. Is it the propensity to stay genetic? Is there a hardier breed of robin that stays?
6. If they stay, then clearly they should have some advantage when spring comes, so is there a built-in driver against migration that is counter-balanced by the hazards of winter?

Migration seems a pretty mysterious subject even now. Any interesting books that might help put my fevered mind to rest?

[Bird Brain]

Dec. 2008, Christmas Bird Count at a park in Oakville ... 250+ Robins.  Wow!    This was an amazing experience - they were flying everywhere in front, behind, beside everyone.  It's all you could see and hear plus quite a riot when they are flying right across the front of your face!