One number from the Christmas Bird Count that surprises many people is the number of Robins seen. Typically we think of Robins as the harbinger of spring or the summer bird running across your lawn. They go south in winter. That is sort of true. Most Robins do migrate to warmer climes, but some stick around.
On this year’s Christmas Bird Count, 560 Robins were seen. That is more than the total number of Cardinals seen (414)
As you might expect, a covering of snow and frozen ground make it difficult for wintering Robins to find their favorite summer food – worms. So they switch to eating berries. And, unlike the lone Robin you see running on your front lawn in summer, wintering Robins band together into small flocks that travel together looking for ripe berries. It is not unusual to see a group of Robin on snow cover branches of berry producing tree and shrub. One day they will be there. The next day, when all the berries are eaten, the flock moves on.
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