What's with the Robins? (Denver, Longmont: houses, neighborhood, live)

[denverian]

Something strange I've noticed is that I've seen Robins around my house throughout Fall, and now I'm noticing even more. Over the long weekend, I've walked the dog around 8 a.m. and there are literally hundreds of Robins in my neighborhood. Some seemed to follow me from tree to tree as we walked around the block.

I love the sound of Robins because you usually first notice them sometime in March, a sign that Spring is near. Anybody have a guess as to why they never left this winter? The past 3 weeks were definitely colder than normal, so it makes no sense.

[2bindenver]

I didn't know Robbins migrated. I remember seeing them all throughout the winters where I grew up in Maryland.

The Colorado geese, is a whole different bird of a feather...they never go home, just find a new golf course to inhabit.

[denverian]

Journey North American Robins

I think this answers my own question. But I've still never seen Robins like this in the middle of winter.

[chilaili]

Really? 'Cause I haven't seen a single one in Longmont all Winter. Perhaps they started to migrate and only got as far your area before giving up and deciding to stay home?

[denverian]

Originally Posted by chilaili

Really? 'Cause I haven't seen a single one in Longmont all Winter. Perhaps they started to migrate and only got as far your area before giving up and deciding to stay home?

I do leave the outdoor heater running, so my yard always stays toasty

Maybe I just have an isolated "flock" in my neighborhood. The article I posted said they tend to stay in large groups if they winter in cold climates. In warmer months, I normally see only one or two at a time. This is almost creepy with so many around. Almost.

[Jester76]

Ever seen the movie "The Birds"? =D

[Katiana]

When I lived in Pennsylvania, the robins migrated and seeing one's first robin was a sign of spring. Ditto Illinois. When we came here, I noticed they do not migrate here, but hang out all winter.

[mczabe]

Funny to read this post. I just moved to Denver and noticed a robin outside my kitchen window yesterday and thought it was just plain weird to see in December.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Denverian
In your link, it mentions that robins seem to need more water.
I remember our Denver backyard being inundated with thirsty robins (we kept a heated birdbath going in the winter, and switched over to a fountain in the summer--both were heavily used by birds of all kinds.)
I definitely remember seeing winter robins in Colorado, but never in huge flocks--that came later, in March. The winter robins were in smaller amounts.
However, we had, when I was on the northwest side of Florida, a large flock of robins winter with us in 2007.
Years ago when I was a kid in northern California, there was a large flock of robins that got rather inebriated from eating fermented berries of some sort. They were lurching all over the neighborhood--it was pretty funny. Hopefully no cats were able to take advantage of this.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by BlueWillowPlate

Denverian
In your link, it mentions that robins seem to need more water.
I remember our Denver backyard being inundated with thirsty robins (we kept a heated birdbath going in the winter, and switched over to a fountain in the summer--both were heavily used by birds of all kinds.)
I definitely remember seeing winter robins in Colorado, but never in huge flocks--that came later, in March. The winter robins were in smaller amounts.
However, we had, when I was on the northwest side of Florida, a large flock of robins winter with us in 2007.
Years ago when I was a kid in northern California, there was a large flock of robins that got rather inebriated from eating fermented berries of some sort. They were lurching all over the neighborhood--it was pretty funny. Hopefully no cats were able to take advantage of this.

Interesting - I have no water outside for the birds, although there's still meling snow on the north side of my house. A nearby park has a couple ponds and a creek, so they could get water there.

I'm just taking it as a personal sign - seing your first Robin means change is coming, re-birth, new growth, etc.

I've also seen a huge owl at night a couple times - I mean an owl big enough to carry off my 14 pound dog! I've never seen one before, so it was a treat. He/she is out at night, perched on houses, who, whooing. Neighbors have seen it too.