February 7, 2015

A Sign of Spring?


At this time of year, especially after the intensely cold January and early February we have had, we become anxious for signs of spring. This morning a big, fluffy robin spent some time in our garden. While I would love to take this as confirmation that warmer weather is on its way, I've noticed robins in our neighbourhood throughout this winter, even during the freezing temperatures of past weeks.

I looked up the behaviour as it seemed unusual. Some sources suggested that if food sources are available, robins may overwinter in order to claim the best spring breeding territory. When I think about it, when I've seen them in past weeks, they have usually been perched on fruit trees (indigenous serviceberry) at the edge of a nearby forest.

Today, this big fellow sat long enough in a tree in our back garden that I had time to run upstairs to get my long-range lens. I just love how he looks with the snow-covered branches behind him.

Then he moved to the trees lining the back of our garden that are still covered with frozen crabapples.
He carefully selected one. When he tried to swallow it, there was an awkward moment and I was worried that he had chosen an apple that was too big. He readjusted it in his beak and then everything seemed to be fine.

So, I think I will just have to consider this as a sweet Saturday visit rather than a sure sign of spring.

❤     

12 comments:

  1. I've been watching for robins these past weeks but have yet to see any. It's interesting because where I live in Wisconsin now the robins leave for the winter but when I lived in Ohio they did not. I like having them as a sign of spring.

    Your photos of your visitor are wonderful and even if this robin isn't a sign of spring it makes me hopeful.

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    1. Here, we used to see them as a sign of spring for sure. I would love when my girls would tell me that they had seen a robin from the school bus on their way home from school in late winter.

      We live by a park with a small forested area and there is a very large population of robins there in the spring and summer. They wake us with their birdsongs. They are early risers. So, it makes sense to me that maybe some stay behind to protect their territory but I also wonder if global warming has something to do with their changing patterns of behaviour.

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  2. Beautiful robin pictures! We have them all winter, too.

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    1. Thanks, Carol. So interesting to know that their habits are different from place to place!

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  3. Lovely bird pics, I never manage to capture any birds - maybe I´m too clumsy..! :-)

    http://tinajoathome.com/

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    1. Thanks, Tina. Geninne gave me a tip a long time ago. She suggested using sports mode when photographing birds. This fellow wasn't moving a whole lot but I still think it helped. I also used my long-range lens and braced it against the back door as I tend to shake! :)

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  4. Awww he was so adorable, so glad you could capture this ! xo

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    1. I was so happy to be able to photograph him! I felt happy too that my backyard trees still had (frozen) fruit on them to nourish him so far into the winter.

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  5. You´ve made some great shots of this beautyful bird! Would like to see this as a painting :) Today, in my location in south of Sweden, it felt like spring with the sun in the face and alot warmer than it has been for the last couple of month. Made me long for the summer!

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    1. Thank you, Catharina! I am hoping to paint him. :) We are still in deep, deep cold here. I am imagining the warm sun on my face with your words!

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  6. Kathleen,
    Thank you for sharing! Great shots! I love it!

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    1. My pleasure. So nice to share my backyard world with others!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to visit my blog and to leave me a comment. I love reading them. -- Kathleen

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