Winter got you down? Feeling like spring will never, ever truly be here? We at the South Dakota Discovery Center have just the ticket to get you through the next month of this special season called "Will winter ever end?" Robin watch!
Robin watch, or more precisely #robinwatch (don't forget the hashtag) is an informal citizen science project about robins. Robins are a gateway bird to birding, great for families and classrooms because robins habituate to people (meaning you can get relatively close), are widespread, and are easy to identify in species and gender.
One of the little known facts about robins is that you can find them this far north even during the winter. They stay fairly hidden, usually in densely vegetated wooden areas which in this part of the world means riparian areas. You don't see them unless you are looking and you don't hear them since they are quiet for, you know, robins. You may hear cheeps that they use to stay in contact with the flock but no rocking (robin) out singing from the treetops. That's mating behavior.
Another little known fact is that the males will start moving into neighborhoods in mid to late February, usually right after a warm spell. You might hear them sing on an especially nice afternoon. But if a cold snap comes along, they will return to the flock and stop singing.
You have to be alert to see these initial stirrings of robins. If you aren't paying attention, then it seems one morning you step out of your house and bam! there are robins. Singing. Hopping. Flapping. But there is a quiet build up before this, akin to actors taking their place on stage.
The timing of this quiet build up will vary even within South Dakota. Thus we are inviting everyone to join us in #RobinWatch on Twitter to tweet out what robins are doing in your locales. Do you see solitary males? Are they singing? Is there a large flock on your lawn? How long till there are just a few? Is there nothing yet, so you are contenting yourself with listening to their songs on All About Birds? (We've all done it, no shame.)
If you need a primer on your robin watching, we point you to Journey North which has all the background information you'll need on robins.
