Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island reports that it has been bombarded with calls from folks seeing robins in their backyards and wondering whether spring is about to break out.

Nope, the society said; it's not unusual to see the red-breasted birds in winter.
Michael Tucker, an Audubon naturalist and birding expert, said, "In southern New England, robins have always managed to winter over in many areas."

Tucker said the birds are members of the thrush family, a group that is able to switch its diet from worms and other invertebrates found in warmer months to berries and fruit after winter temperatures set in.

"With the fragmentation of forests in the Northeast, American Robins have found it much easier to survive the winter months here. While a number of robins do migrate, others take advantage of the fragmented areas around neighborhoods, roadways and under power lines. These areas provide edge habitat, which means there are plenty of plants that yield fruit. Adding to their food supply are introduced plant species in landscapes which also have spread and adapted to the wild."

Audubon said in a news release that many people incorrectly associate robins with spring and warmer weather.

Said Tucker, "Robins will flock up during the fall and remain in these larger groups throughout the winter. Coastal areas, with weather tempered by the ocean, usually hold the greatest concentrations. These areas also tend to have the largest amount of underbrush for food. However, it is not uncommon to see them inland as well. As early as this month, the large flocks begin to break up into smaller groups and spread out over a greater area. As the snow melts and patches of ground are exposed, you will see more of these birds searching for food."

 Tags  winter

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