Below is part of what I wrote to Steve yesterday about my robin thoughts & observations.
Fritzie Blizzard Union Springs Steve wrote: I thought they might be going to some preselected roost (following them was not an option today), but why so many this time of year? Constructive ideas welcomed. Hi, Steve, ........ your question about the robins & the roost idea. From Union Springs to well south of King Ferry between Rte 90 & the lake are many water sources and 100s of acres of cedars, with many of them along deep, sheltered gorges. Certainly wild rose bushes also can be found. Even here, in the swamp north of Frontenac Park, robins have food, water & shelter & they stay in the winter. One winter day, probably 10 yrs. ago, John & I were in Auburn when the 1,000s of crows were coming into the city to roost. I assumed I was seeing lots of starlings with them but suddenly I realized that instead of starlings it was what seemed like an endless stream of robins. When I finally thought to count after watching for maybe 8 or 10 minutes, I got to 350 & gave up because there were so many & we had to leave. It sure upset my thinking about robins migrating. Back in the winters of 1991-'92 & '92-'93 when I was still driving to Ithaca to work, I would regularly see robins crossing Rte. 90 as I was going up the hill out of Aurora ..... lots of cedars there. So maybe we have a larger number of wintering birds than thought but we just aren't in the right spot at the right time to see them. Fritzie Steve Fast Brooktondale ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.432 / Virus Database: 270.14.126/2601 - Release Date: 01/05/10 07:35:00 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Archives: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
