Today as we drove around doing errands it was snowing again, and you can see the snowflakes in some of these pictures. But wait, what was that way up high in the tree? Out came my Nikon zoom lens. A robin, all puffed up from the cold! This is the second one I've seen this year. Three day ago, I saw the first robin of the year, which is my last two pictures. When I saw that robin, I couldn't have been happier if you gave me chocolate cake! The first sign of spring!! For some reason, the robins return much earlier than any other migrating bird. They don't really wait for spring, but usually return a full month ahead of time. Brrr! Did you know the robin is an imposter? Just between you and me, he's not really a robin at all! He's a member of the thrush family! Not even related to the real European Robin. Our North American Robin is called a robin because he looks like the real thing in England. Both robins do indeed have the same markings, but the real English one is much smaller and rather cute. As soon as spring comes, at least six robins will vie for possession of our front yard. Many violent territorial fights take place, with much chest bumping and feather flying. The wounded survivors finally limp off, leaving the lone victors to their spoils. One pair per yard, that's the rule, and they will fight to the death for it. During the spring and summer, the pair keep strictly to themselves and will not hang out or gossip with any other robins, unlike the chatty, friendly sparrows . The tiny sparrows like to throw parties and gossip about how stuck-up the robins are. Meanwhile, I like standing at my window and watching the birdworld of Maple Avenue.
Said the robin to the sparrow:
"I should really like to know
why these anxious human beings
rush about and worry so."
Said the sparrow to the robin:
"Friend, I think that it must be,
that they have no heavenly Father
such as cares for you and me". Elizabeth Cheney
4 comments:
Gotta love those robins.
Great shots of the robins Ginny, I am always happy to see them in the early spring. I have seen a couple of them here so spring has to be close.
the robins are coming! the robins are coming! they are so cute and it means spring is about to spring. we don't have Robins here and only a sparrow now and then. i did not know they were like us humans and don't want to share. good post ginny
I'm so happy you found this lovely first sign of spring and shared your beautiful photos of this colorful robin! Thanks also for the info about the unknown white blossom. Seems to me La Dolce Vita suggested it might be a member of the allium or onion family too. I have a bunch more coming up in my parkway but none quite as lovely as the first. Unfortunate Molly stepped on it when my sister came to visit so I have it in a vase in the house, but it doesn't seem to be doing very well. Such is life ;-)
Hugs and blessings,
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