I sat in my room staring out the window this morning and saw a Robin land on the branch of the maple tree. I was delighted to see the Robin but questioned myself. Does the presence of the Robin really mean Spring is coming? So I Googled for the answer.

 

Apparently the American Robin can be found as far north as Canada and Alaska. The Robin, does migrate south during the winter and so if you live in Canada or Alaska seeing a Robin probably does mean spring is around the corner. In Pennsylvania it may mean the robins you are seeing are probably from Canada and Alaska. They have migrated to this location to search for winter food such as hollies, mulberries, cedar, juniper, or crabapple trees. You see robins as long as the food supply is ample.

 

Given that our winter has been fairly mild I am sure the robins we are seeing are Canadian, “EH?”. However, it could be my favorite neighborhood robin that found a food supply only a few miles away from the house and never migrated.

 

I can still hold out hope that the robin in my yard was from Florida. I mean he did look like he had a tan. Maybe he decided to fly north and get a lay of the land, perhaps to find a suitable nesting site for he and his lady.

 

In other words I am rooting for that “harbinger of spring” my friendly neighborhood robin. 

 

Interested in Birds? Check out the National Audubon or the Great Backyard Bird Count.